Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
4-11 (0-1MAC)
Central Michigan
7-6 (1-0MAC)
Central Michigan Tops Volleyball In MAC Opener
September 26, 2008 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Despite double-digit kills from Julie Breivogel (Boonville, Ind./Boonville H.S.) and Hannah Sullivan (New Albany, Ind./New Albany H.S.), the Ball State women's volleyball team suffered a 3-1 (24-26, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21) setback to Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools.
With the loss, the Cardinals drop to 4-11 (0-1 Mid-American Conference) on the season, while the Chippewas improve to 7-6 (1-0 MAC).
Breivogel was the top attacker in the contest, smashing 14 kills while hitting for a .310 (14-5-29) rate of success. She also added 14 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Sullivan finished the night with 11 markers, while adding two blocks.
As a team, the Cardinals were able to out-dig the Chippawas by a total of 65 to 53, however, it was CMU's presence at the net, including four straight blocks to end the third set, which guided the guests to victory.
BSU libero Kaylee Schembra (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli H.S.) led all players with 18 digs on the night, while CMU's Kaitlyn Schultz added a match-high six total blocks to go along with a team-high tying 11 kills.
Alexis Lonneman was the Chippewas top backcourt player, digging 12 balls.
The first two sets of the night were back-and-forth battles with neither team holding a clear advantage. The Cardinals were the first to reach set point in the opening frame, as a CMU service error gave BSU a 24-23 advantage. While a block by the Chippewas Schultz and Kate Fissel knotted the score at 24, back-to-back attacking errors by the guests gave Ball State an early 1-0 lead in the match.
Set two saw the teams play to a 23-23 tie before a Breivogel kill gave the Cardinals a chance to go up by two sets. However, two BSU setting errors surrounding a Schultz kill allowed the Chippewas to win the frame.
The teams played to a 19-19 deadlock in the third game, before a Ball State attack error and a kill from Sarah Warner forced BSU to call its first timeout trailing 21-19. Central Michigan used the break to their advantage, setting up their defense to score blocks on the next four plays to win the set 25-19.
With a kill from Alisha Green (Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest H.S.) giving Ball State a 20-19 advantage in the fourth game, the Cardinals looked poised to force a fifth frame. Unfortunately, CMU answered the call, scoring six of the final seven points to win the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Saturday night, with a 7 p.m. first serve versus Eastern Michigan at Worthen Arena.
