Ball State University
Ohio State
Men?s Volleyball Hands No. 8 Ohio State First MIVA Loss
February 16, 2008 | Men's Volleyball
The win moves the Cardinals to 8-6 overall, and 3-1 in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association action. The Buckeye, who entered the match undefeated in league play, fall to 7-3 (5-1 MIVA) with the loss.
“I just want to say thanks to the
“It's a great win for us tonight,” added Walton. “I'm really pleased with how our guys played. The most important thing was we made plays late in games. That's what we had to do. We won three very close games.”
With the Buckeyes looking to stop BSU's potent middle attackers, the Cardinals' outside attacking trio of Patrick Durbin (Louisville, Ky./Trinity H.S.), Todd Chamberlain (
Durbin paced all players with 22 kills, while adding 12 digs for his third double-double in the last four matches. Chamberlain added 16 kills and nine digs, while Imwalle collected 13 markers and three aces, including back-to-back aces to end the match.
“Imwalle came up with some big swings when we needed them and I think people are starting to see that Chamberlain and Durbin are where we run a lot of our offense,” continued Walton. “We've got to find some balance somewhere. Marcus did a good job for us tonight, eliminating some of the errors he has had in recent weeks and it was key for our team.”
Defensively, BSU libero Ian Peckler (
“Peckler had 17 digs at the end of the night and he played one fewer game than just about anybody out there. Ian did a real nice job for us defensively and I think his passing also steadied us out.”
In addition to double-figure digs from Durbin and Peckler, BSU setter Ethan Pheister (
On the opposite bench, Robbie Klein was
After an attack error, BSU's J.D. Gasparovic (
Ohio State held a four-point lead at 23-19, only to see a Chamberlain kill spark a 4-0 BSU run which tied the set at 23-23. Matt McCarthy (
The game remained tied at 24-24, after a McCarthy kill, before a 4-0 run put the Buckeyes ahead for good. A Kevin Heine kill gave OSU game point, while a BSU attack error ended the set at 30-26.
The second set saw the teams battle to a 16-16 tie before a solo block from McCarthy and a kill from Imwalle gave the hosts an 18-16 advantage. With the Cardinals holding a 21-20 edge, Durbin collected three-straight kills to push the score to 24-20 and force the Buckeyes to call their second time out of the set.
After OSU rallied within two points at 25-23, it was Chamberlain's turn to pound the Worthen Arena hardwood, as he added kills on three of the next four plays to put BSU ahead 28-24. After a Brett Versen kill gave the Buckeyes the ball, a service error gave
Daniel Mathews helped the Buckeyes stay alive with a block assist and a service ace, while a Klein kill made the second 29-28 and forced BSU to call a time out. After the minute break, an OSU attack error gave BSU a 30-28 game two win.
Ball State was able to build a 5-1 advantage to open the third game, only to see the Buckeyes rebound with three-straight points to make the score 5-4. The Cardinals maintained a one-point lead at 12-11, before some strong serving from Gasparovic - - including an ace - - and three Imwalle kills gave BSU a 17-11 advantage.
Like earlier in the frame, BSU was not able to capitalize on the large advantage, as Ohio State rallied to tie the score at 20-20 and took a brief 21-20 edge on a block from Mathews and Ted Schoenfeldt.
BSU maintained the two-point edge and reached game-point at 29-27 off a OSU service error, only to see kills from Brett Versen and John Klanac tie the set at 29-29. Another Buckeye service error gave BSU another game point at 30-29, before an attack error tied the set once again.
The Buckeye's third service miscue in as many attempts allowed BSU to reach game point again at 31-30. This time, the Cardinals were able to take advantage of the error, as Imwalle smashed a game-wining kill.
The Cardinals gained control early in the fourth set, building a 9-5 advantage utilizing two kills from Chamberlain and another marker from Imwalle in a 3-0 run. The Buckeyes rebounded with a 6-1 run and eventually built four-point lead at 17-13.
This time it was Ball State's turn to answer the call, as they went on a 4-1 run of their own to draw within in one at 18-17. The Buckeyes regained a three-point lead at 22-19, only to see BSU tie the score with a 5-2 run capped by back-to-back Durbin kills.
With the score tied at 27-27, a Chamberlain kill gave BSU a 28-27 advantage.
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The Cardinals, who picked up their seventh win in the last eight matches, finished the contest with a .205 (64-33-151) to .182 (53-26-148) attacking advantage, while logging 59 digs to
The Buckeyes held a 7-to-6 edge in aces and a 16.0-to-10.5 advantage in total blocks.
The
