Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball To Battle Ohio Friday
November 19, 2008 | Women's Volleyball
► MAC TOURNAMENT ROUND 2: After collecting a 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) first round victory over No. 10 seed Eastern Michigan Tuesday evening at Worthen Arena, the No. 7 seed Ball State women's volleyball team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2008 Mid-American Conference Tournament, where it will face No. 2 seed Ohio in Friday's 7 p.m. quarterfinal match at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio . . . The match will be carried live by WCRD 91.3 FM and webcasted free of charge on www.ballstatesports.com . . . The winner of the contest will advance to face the victor of the 1:30 p.m. quarterfinal match between No. 3 seed Miami and No. 6 seed Northern Illinois.
► BSU EARNS SEVENTH SEED: Ball State enters the quarterfinals of the 2008 Mid-American Conference Tournament with an 12-20 (6-10 MAC) record . . . With its 6-10 league mark, the Cardinals earned the tournament's seventh seed . . . In first round action, the Cardinals eliminated No. 10 seed Eastern Michigan, who finished league play with a 4-12 mark, with a 3-0 victory Tuesday night at Worthen Arena . . . With the win, Ball State advances to quarterfinal play, where it draws No. 2 seed Ohio who earned a bye in the first round by winning the MAC's East Division with a 13-3 league mark . . . Ohio finished the regular season with a 20-7 overall record.
► 18 AND COUNTING: Ball State opened its 18th-straight Mid-American Conference Tournament with a dominating 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) sweep of Eastern Michigan Tuesday night at Worthen Arena . . . With the win, BSU improved to 3-0 in first round matches played in Worthen Arena since 2003, when all teams were invited to play in the tournament . . . From 1987-1996, only the top four league teams participated in the tournament, while the field expanded to eight teams in 1997.
► AT HOME IN THE TOURNAMENT: With Tuesday's win, the Cardinals improved to 16-1 all-time in MAC Tournament matches played in Worthen Arena, with its only loss coming in the 2003 semifinals versus eventual tournament champion Ohio . . . BSU has never lost a tournament-opening match at Worthen Arena, going 3-0 in first round matches, 6-0 in quarterfinal play and 1-0 in semifinal action . . . BSU claimed three MAC Tournament titles on the Worthen Arena hardwood floor (1994, 1999 and 2002), before the final three rounds were moved to a neutral site for the 2005 event.
► AT THE SEAGATE CENTRE: Since the SeaGate Centre became the host site for the final three rounds of the MAC Tournament in 2005, Ball State is 2-2 in tournament play in the building . . . Ohio is 8-1 on the SeaGate Centre court.
► ALL-TIME IN THE TOURNAMENT: After its first round win over Eastern Michigan, Ball State is a combined 27-13 (.675) all-time in MAC Tournament matches . . . Both BSU's 27 wins and 40 matches played are league records . . . Overall, Ball State is 3-1 in first round matches, 9-1 in quarterfinal matches, 9-8 in semifinal matches and 6-3 in championship matches . . . Ball State has more tournament wins (27) than eight other MAC schools have matches played . . . Miami (34), Western Michigan (33) and Bowling Green (29) are the only schools to play in more tournament matches than BSU has wins . . . A complete list of Ball State's MAC Tournament matches are listed below.
► ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: The Cardinals placed at least one player on the MAC All-Tournament squad every year from 1991-2005, marking a league-record 15-straight seasons with an all-tournament honoree . . . Since the inception of the all-tournament team in 1989, BSU has received the most selections, being honored 24 times among 16 players . . . In addition, Ball State holds the edge in tournament Most Valuable Players with six.
► VERSUS THE FIELD: Ball State holds a 246-146-1 record versus the remaining MAC Tournament field, including a 15-10 mark in tournament action and a 5-3 ledger in championship matches:
► BSU VS. OHIO: Friday's MAC Tournament quarterfinal match marks the second meeting between the Cardinals and Bobcats this season . . . In the first meeting, Ohio scored a 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-19) victory Oct. 18 at Worthen Arena . . . While Ball State maintains a 31-10 lead in the all-time series, the Bobcats have won the last eight meetings since snapping a 26-match BSU winning streak in 2003 . . . Ohio also owns wins in the only two MAC Tournament meetings between the two squads, scoring a 3-0 (30-24, 30-25, 30-28) victory in the 2005 championship match and a 3-0 (30-21, 30-20, 30-21) win in the 2003 semifinals . . . On neutral courts, the teams are 1-1, with Ohio's victory coming at the SeaGate Centre in the 2005 MAC Tournament Championships match . . . A complete box score from the first match this season can be found on page 33 of the PDF version of this release.
► ABOUT THE CARDINALS: Ball State enters Friday's match versus Ohio with a 12-20 (6-10 MAC) record after scoring a 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) MAC Tournament First Round victory over Eastern Michigan Tuesday at Worthen Arena . . . Julie Breivogel paces the Cardinals with a 2.78 kills-per-set average, while Alisha Green is second at 2.70 . . . Brittany McGinnis sets the BSU attack, handing out 9.79 assists-per-set . . . Defensively, Alyssa Rio leads the squad with a 4.47 digs-per-set average, while Green is BSU's top overall blocker with 90 total blocks and a 0.75 blocks-per-set average . . . As a team, BSU averages 12.41 KPS, 11.54 APS, 15.53 DPS and 1.92 BPS . . . Cardinals' opponents average 12.31 KPS, 11.26 APS, 14.32 DPS and 1.81 BPS.
► ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Ohio enters Friday's match with a 20-7 (13-3 MAC) record after earning the No. 2 seed and a bye for the first round of the tournament . . . Winners of six-straight matches, the Bobcats are paced offensively by Ellen Herman who averages 4.44 kills-per-set, while Meghan Simons is second at 2.18 . . . Michelle Jantsch sets the Ohio attack, handing out 9.91 assists-per-set . . . Defensively, Sarah Petrulis leads the squad with a 3.27 digs-per-set average, while Simons is the team's top blocker with a 1.00 blocks-per-set average . . . As a team, Ohio averages 13.36 KPS, 12.34 APS, 13.64 DPS and 2.48 BPS . . . Bobcats' opponents average 10.80 KPS, 10.27 APS, 13.11 DPS and 1.67 BPS.
► ROUND ONE: In the Oct. 18 match, the Bobcats used 19 kills from Ellen Herman and a .356 (48-11-104) attack percentage as a team to tally a 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-19) victory . . . Three Cardinals - - Julie Breivogel, Jennifer Boyd and Hannah Sullivan - - tied for team-high honors with seven kills each, while BSU was limited to a .146 (32-18-96) hitting mark as a team . . . Defensively, Brittany McGinnis paced all players with 15 digs, while dishing out 29 assists . . . Alyssa Rio also tallied double-figure digs for the Cardinals with 12.
► LOOKING AHEAD: With a win over Ohio in quarterfinal play, Ball State would advance to face the winner of No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Northern Illinois in semifinal action Saturday at 7 p.m. . . . In the lone metting with the RedHawks, the Cardinals scored a 3-2 (26-24, 25-17, 17-25, 11-25, 18-16) upset victory in Oxford (Oct. 25) . . . BSU split a pair of regular season meetings with the Huskies, as each team collected road wins . . . Ball State tallied a 3-2 (17-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-19, 15-13) win Oct. 10, while NIU scored a 3-1 (25-22, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18) victory Nov. 15 . . . The MAC Tournament Championships match is set for Sunday at 3 p.m.
► BALL STATE VS. MIAMI: Including its upset victory over Miami on Oct. 25, the Cardinals hold a 39-30 advantage in the all-time series with the RedHawks . . . Overall, the Cardinals have won 14 of the last 16 meetings between the two teams, including a 3-0 (30-27, 30-23, 30-27) victory in the last MAC Tournament meeting Nov. 18, 2005 . . . BSU holds a 5-3 lead in MAC Tournament matches, including a 2-0 record in championships matches.
► ABOUT THE REDHAWKS: Miami enters its Friday match versus Northern Illinois with an 18-10 (12-4 MAC) record after earning the third seed and a bye for the first round of the MAC Tournament . . . Winners of three-straight matches, the RedHawks are paced offensively by Emily Schroeder who averages 3.07 kills-per-set, while Megan Griffin is second at 2.79 . . . Andrea Atteberry sets the Miami attack, handing out 11.23 assists-per-set . . . Defensively, Melissa Zenz leads the squad with a 4.31 digs-per-set average, while Griffin is the team's top blocker with a 0.75 blocks-per-set average . . . As a team, Miami averages 13.83 KPS, 12.94 APS, 14.61 DPS and 2.00 BPS . . . RedHawks' opponents average 12.51 KPS, 11.42 APS, 13.27 DPS and 1.73 BPS.
► BALL STATE VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS: After splitting a pair of regular season matches, the Cardinals find themselves trailing NIU 22-25 in the all-time series . . . NIU is the only Mid-American Conference team with a winning record over the Cardinals, after posting wins in six of the last seven contests . . . The Huskies also own a 3-1 advantage in MAC Tournament matches, including a 3-1 (30-20, 27-30, 30-19, 30-28) first round victory on Nov. 13, 2007 . . . NIU also won the only championship match between the two clubs.
► ABOUT THE HUSKIES: Northern Illinois enters Friday's match versus Miami with an 18-13 (9-7 MAC) record . . . NIU, which earned the sixth seed in the MAC Tournament, scored a thrilling 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11) victory over No. 11 seed Kent State in first round action Tuesday in DeKalb, Ill. . . . Meagan Schoenrock paces the Huskies with a 4.41 kills-per-set average, while Allison McGlaughlin is second at 3.20 . . . Amanda Tadla and Kristin Hoffman split time as NIU's setter, averaging 9.77 and 9.28 assists per set, respectively . . . Defensively, Maddie Hughes leads the squad with a 4.44 digs-per-set average, while Cassie Yates is the team's top blocker with a 0.63 blocks-per-set average . . . As a team, NIU averages 13.11 KPS, 12.03 APS, 14.61 DPS and 1.57 BPS . . . Huskies' opponents average 13.48 KPS, 12.43 APS, 14.72 DPS and 2.12 BPS.
► RIO DIGGING UP THE CHARTS: With 65 total digs in Ball State's last three matches, sophomore libero Alyssa Rio climbed from 10th to seventh on BSU's all-time career digs chart . . . Rio, who recorded 13 digs in Tuesday's MAC Tournament win over Eastern Michigan, enters Friday's match with 1,162 career digs . . . With her 65 digs in the last three outtings, she passed Katie Butts (1999-2002; 1109 digs), Emily Sallee (1997-2000; 1120 digs) and Stacy Jordan (1982-85; 1126 digs) on BSU's all-time career digs list . . . Rio broke into the top 10 in program history after collecting 27 digs versus Akron (Nov. 9) . . . She collected her 1,000th career dig in BSU's victory at Miami (Oct. 25).
► MORE ON RIO'S DIGGING: In addition to ranking in the top 10 in career digs at Ball State, Alyssa Rio has tallied double-digit digs in 55 of a possible 62 career matches, including 27 times this season . . . The total ranks her tied for sixth in program history with Katie Butts . . . Rio, who owns a career-high of 41 digs versus Southeast Missouri State (Aug, 25, 2007), has tallied a season-high 29 digs on three occasions, while cracking the 20 dig mark on 15 occasions . . . Her 28 career matches with 20-or-more digs ranks third in program annals, trailing only Stephanie Keller (2001-04; 44) and Amanda McCormick (2005-06; 45).
► SPEAKING OF 20 DIGS: Junior outside attacker Julie Breivogel became the fourth different BSU player to post 20-or-more digs in a match this season when she collected a career-high 21 in Tuesday's win over Eastern Michigan . . . The total was three more than her previous career high of 18 set three days earlier versus Northern Illinois (Sept. 15).
► BREIVOGEL CLOSING IN ON 1,000: In addition to her career-high 21 digs versus EMU, Julie Breivogel smashed 11 kills in the win to raise her career total to 991 . . . Breivogel, who broke into the top 10 in program history in career kills with seven at Central Michigan (Nov. 1), leads the Cardinals with a 2.78 kills-per-set average, while ranking second with 317 total kills . . . She has collected 10 kill/dig double-doubles this season to rank second on the squad in that category.
► KAKATOLIS EYING TOP 20: Junior Elaina Kakatolis is moving closer to the top 20 in career blocks at Ball State, collecting seven block assists last weekend (one vs. CMU and six vs. NIU) to raise her career blocking total to 208 . . . Over her career, Kakatolis had tallied 189 block assists and 19 solo blocks . . . She needs 13 more block assists to pass Katie Butts (201) for 20th on BSU's all-time list . . . She is also 29 total blocks shy of passing Karen Gladish (1984-87; 236 total blocks) for 20th on that list.
► BOYD HITTING THE MARK: After tying a career-high with a .474 (10-1-19) attack percentage in Tuesday's victory over Eastern Michigan, freshman Jennifer Boyd continues to be Ball State's top attacker based on hitting percentage . . . Boyd is currently hitting .313, which ranks sixth among all league players . . . In MAC-only matches, Boyd hit .340, to rank her fourth in the conference . . . Boyd also ranks second on the team in total blocks (74) . . . For the year, Boyd has hit .300-or-better in 14 of the 31 matches she has played.
► DOUBLE TROUBLE: Freshman setter Brittany McGinnis racked up her team-leading 17th double-double of the season with 36 assists and 11 digs in last Friday's loss to Western Michigan . . . She fell one dig shy of her 18th double-double, tallying 48 assists and nine digs in the regular season finale versus Northern Illinois.
► MORE ON MCGINNIS: In addition to her team-leading 17 double-doubles this season, freshman setter Brittany McGinnis was the third BSU player to collect 20 digs in a match this season, when she turned in a career-high 20 at Bowling Green (Oct. 24) . . . She also dished out a career-best 56 assists versus the Falcons . . . McGinnis, who averages 9.79 assists-per-set, also enters Friday's match versus Ohio ranked first on the team aces (31), second in digs (308) and fourth in total blocks (59).
► SPREADING THE WEALTH: Ball State setter Brittany McGinnis has done an excellent job spreading the ball around over the last few weeks, as four-or-more Cardinals have tallied double-figure kills in three of the last four matches . . . In Tuesday's victory, Alisha Green (12), Julie Breivogel (11), Jennifer Boyd (10 and Elaina Kakatolis (10) each tallied double-figure kills for the second-straight match . . . Overall, the Cardinals have had four-or-more players reach double-figure kills in eight matches this season.
► SEASON-BEST HITTING: In addition to having four players record double-digit kills, the Cardinals used a season-best .336 (52-15-110) attack percentage to help secure a MAC Tournament First Round win over Eastern Michigan Tuesday . . . BSU's previous best effort was a .333 (42-13-87) rate of success at Toledo (Oct. 2) . . . As a team, the Cardinals have broken the .300 hitting mark in four matches this season, while hitting .250-or-better on nine occasions.
► DON'T FORGET THE D: Along with its solid offensive play versus the Eagles, the Ball State defense limited Eastern Michigan to a .155 (27-11-103) hitting percentage in Tuesday's victory . . . For the year, BSU has limited its opposition to under a .200 hitting percentage 18 times, including a season-best -.053 (19-24-95) defensive gem against Centenary (Aug. 30) . . . BSU's second-best defensive effort was a .007 (32-31-145) lock down of Eastern Michigan Sept. 27.
► BSU IN THE MAC: Ball State ended the 2008 Mid-American Conference season with the second-best all-time league record and league winning percentage at 273-134 (.671) . . . Western Michigan holds the top spot with a 280-127 (.688) record . . . Ball State had entered the season with a one-match edge over WMU for the top spot . . . BSU is also second in the league with 13 20-plus win regular seasons since MAC play began in 1983.
► ROAD WARRIORS: Ball State ended the road portion of its 2008 regular season schedule with a 7-4 record in true road matches . . . The Cardinals own road wins over Sam Houston State (3-1), DePaul (3-1), Toledo (3-0), Buffalo (3-1), Northern Illinois (3-2), Miami (3-2) and Eastern Michigan (3-1), while falling on the road at Indiana (3-0), Western Michigan (3-0), Bowling Green (3-2) and Central Michigan (3-0) . . . BSU, which is 3-11 at home and 2-5 in neutral matches in 2008, owns the advantage despite being out-hit .171 to .204 on the road . . . BSU does out-dig its opponents on the road 14.93 to 14.26, while holding a 1.23 to 1.07 edge in service aces per set.
► WHEN AT HOME: In 16-plus years of play in Worthen Arena, BSU has amassed a 179-51 (.778) record, including a 136-26 (.840) mark against MAC teams . . . Among league schools, Miami has the most wins in the arena with five (5-11), followed by Ohio (4-8), Western Michigan (4-14), Northern Illinois (4-9), Central Michigan (3-12), Kent State (2-10), Bowling Green (2-12), Akron (1-11), Toledo (1-15) and Eastern Michigan (1-19) . . . Buffalo (0-8) has never won in Worthen Arena, while Marshall was 0-7 in the gym when it was a member of the league from 1997 to 2004 . . . BSU is 6-21 (3-13 MAC) in its last two seasons at Worthen Arena, its only two losing seasons in the building.
► ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Since 1975, Ball State players have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors a total of eight times . . . The total currently ranks eighth in the nation, with BSU being the only Mid-American Conference school in the top 10.
► LEADERS IN THE MAC: Ball State is the home of the Mid-American Conference's all-time career statistical leaders in assists, kills and digs . . . Emily Sallee finished her career with 6,408 assists from 1997-2000 . . . Stephanie Keller collected 2,273 digs from 2001-04 . . . Sarah Obras smashed 1,975 kills in her career, which spanned from 2002-05 . . . Sallee's assist total and Keller's dig total still rank in the top 10 in NCAA history.
► THE MEDIA: The Ball State women's volleyball team has the most comprehensive radio package in the MAC, as WCRD 91.3 FM will once again be the radio home of the Cardinals for the 2008 season . . . The station is slated to cover 12 of the Cardinals' 13 home matches, as well as all of BSU's 2008 MAC Tournament action . . . In addition, the state-of-the-art WCRD studio will be the home of "Serving It Up" with Dave Boos, a weekly volleyball report which airs Monday nights from 6 to 7 p.m. beginning Sept. 1 . . . Fans can follow all of the action for FREE on the official home of Ball State Athletics, www.ballstatesports.com.
► MORE ABOUT THE MEDIA: The Ball State Sports Network is slated to broadcast a pair of women's volleyball home matches this season . . . The network will televise the Sept. 9 match versus IUPUI and the Nov. 15 contest against Northern Illinois . . . In addition, Sports Link will webcast the Nov. 6 match versus Toledo and the Nov. 14 contest versus Western Michigan . . . BSU head coach Dave Boos will also be a regular on Cardinal Talk, which is a hour-long weekly Ball State sports report which airs Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. on ESPN Radio AM 1340.
