HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (30-22, 30-21, 30-17) setback to San Diego State in the opening match of the Hofstra/Asics Invitational Friday evening.
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 1-3 on the year, while the Aztecs improve to 3-1.
Sophomore opposite side attacker Elaina Kakatolis (Arcanum, Ohio/Franklin Monroe H.S.) was the lone player to post double-figure kills in the contest, scoring 10 to go along with a team-high .360 (10-1-25) attack percentage.
A pair of BSU freshman logged double-digit digs in the match, with libero Alyssa Rio (Wayne, Ill./St. Francis H.S.) scoring 15 and defensive specialist Karin Caudill (Selma, Ind./Burris Laboratory School) tallying a career-high 12.
“With this being our first road match, we look uncomfortable on the court,” said BSU head coach Dave Boos. “Hopefully we learned some lessons today and can build on them and improve our play tomorrow.”
After a kill from freshman middle blocker/opposite side attacker Alexis Shonkwiler (Marion, Ind./Eastbrook H.S.) put the Cardinals on the scoreboard first in the opening set, SDSU rallied off the next eight points and never looked back, winning the game 30-22.
In the second game, the teams played to a 2-2 tie before a 10-2 run gave San Diego State an eight-point lead at 12-4. BSU managed to trade the next six points with SDSU, but could not get closer than seven points the rest of the way, dropping game two 30-21.
The final game started much like the first two, with the Aztecs building an early nine-point advantage at the 15-6 mark. Ball State managed to draw within six points at 17-11, off a Kakatolis kill and a SDSU attack error, only to see San Diego State rally off the next five points and go on to win the game 30-17.
Junior middle blocker Christine Kennedy (San Marcos, Calif./University of San Diego H.S.) added seven kills, four digs and a block in the match, while sophomore outside attacker Julie Breivogel (Boonville, Ind./Boonville H.S.) posted seven kills and a dig.
Freshman outside attacker Abby LaVigne (Swanton, Ohio/Swanton H.S.) scored the Cardinals' lone service ace, while adding eight digs and a pair of kills.
Freshman defensive specialist Katie Gallagher (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North H.S.) saw her first collegiate action in the match, collecting three digs.
Senior setter Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.) handed out 31 assists, while scoring five digs and three kills.
Lauren Salisbury and Kelley Wahlin each smashed nine kills for San Diego State, while Aime Cordeiro led all players with 21 digs.
As a team, SDSU out-hit Ball State .295 (49-13-122) to .120 (36-21-125), while holding a 60-to-49 advantage in digs, an 11-to-3 lead in blocks and a 5-to-1 edge in aces.
Ball State concludes play in the Hofstra/Asics Invitational Saturday, when it battles tournament host Hofstra at 11:30 a.m. and Siena at 3:30 p.m.
