Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
11-15 (4-9MAC)
Eastern Michigan
5-24 (4-9MAC)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan | 13 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 3 |
| Ball State | 25 | 20 | 21 | 27 | 17 | 2 |
Women's Volleyball Loses Tough Battle Against EMU
November 07, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - In a hard-fought contest that went the distance, the Ball State women's volleyball team fell short Friday evening versus Mid-American Conference rival Eastern Michigan, suffering a 3-2 (25-13, 20-25, 21-25, 27-25, 17-19) setback at Worthen Arena.
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 11-15 (4-9 MAC) on the year. The Eagles improve to 5-24 (4-9 MAC) with their second win over the Cardinals this season.
The Cardinals suffered the loss despite a balanced offensive attack that saw double-digit kills from senior Julie Breivogel (Boonville, Ind./Boonville), junior Hannah Sullivan (New Albany, Ind./University of Houston) and sophomore Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./University of Cincinnati).
Sullivan threw down a match-leading and season-high 20 kills, while Brandl and Breivogel registered 15 and 12, respectively.
Overall, BSU sophomore setter Brittany McGinnis (Fraser, Mich./Fraser H.S.) helped the Cardinals post a .196 (65-30-179) to .142 (59-32-190) hitting edge in the contest, while collecting her fourth double-double of the season with 50 assists and 14 digs. She also added a match-high five service aces.
On the defensive end, BSU junior Alyssa Rio (Wayne, Ill./St. Francis H.S.) claimed a match-high 34 digs, which was her highest dig total since a 30-dig night versus Siena Sept. 1, 2007. Joining Rio and McGinnis with double-figure digs for BSU were Sullivan and sophomore Kaylee Schembra (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli H.S.) with 15 and 10, respectively.
On the EMU side of the net, Jennifer Swartz was one of three Eagles with double-figure kills, collecting 17 in the contest. Joining Swartz were Rachel Iaquaniello with 15 and Kristen Baker with 12. Haley Stein added a team-best 23 digs, including a pivotal play late in the fifth set to keep EMU alive.
In set one, the two squads remained close early, battling to a 5-5 tie. After a BSU service error gave the guests a brief 6-5 advantage, McGinnis powered the Cardinals on a 7-0 run starting with a kill and adding three service aces.
BSU continued its tear leading 19-7 after ending a 14-2 streak that featured contributions from the entire team. During the run, Sullivan notched a pair of kills, while McGinnis, Breivogel and senior Elaina Kakatolis (Arcanum, Ohio/Franklin Monroe H.S.) all threw down a kill a piece. Sullivan blasted two more kills to help BSU close out set one, 25-13.
Set two saw the teams jump out to another 6-6 tie as Sullivan continued her stellar play, registering five kills in the early going. Despite kills from five different Cardinals, EMU pulled out to a 19-15 advantage, thanks in part to three kills from Swartz and two from Iaquaniello.
Consecutive kills from Breivogel and sophomore Jennifer Boyd (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley H.S.) brought BSU within two, but following a kill by Brandl later in the set, the Cardinals were stalled at 20 and the Eagles tied the match behind a set-winning service ace from Iaquaniello at 25-20.
In the third stanza, BSU got off to a hot start and a 5-2 lead by forcing the Eagles into three early errors. The Eagles stormed back, taking an 8-7 lead off a pair of BSU miscues, before a Breivogel kill knotted the score.
The set remained close and BSU was able to regain the lead at 13-11 thanks in part to three kills from Brandl. A pair of kills from Breivogel and a service ace helped the Cardinals hold a lead at 18-17. However, with the score knotted at 20, EMU scored kills on four of the next six play to win the set 25-21. Ianquaniello posted the Eagles' final two markers.
With the guests from Ypsilanti, Mich., holding a 12-7 lead early in the fourth set, two straight kills from Breivogel and Sullivan helped the Cardinals battle back into the set. Later, a pair of kills from Brandl assisted BSU in a 5-1 run that allowed the home team to get within one at 16-15.
Trailing 21-18 after back-to-back kills from EMU's Swartz, Ball State utilized consecutive kills from Breivogel and Sullivan once again to help tie things up at 21 and force an EMU timeout.
The Eagles scored three of the next four points to set themselves up at match-point with a 24-22 lead. However, a Sullivan smash and an EMU error kept the Cardinals alive and tied the set at 24.
A BSU serving error gave Eastern Michigan its third change to close out the match at 25-24, but the Cardinals closed set four with three straight points to force a fifth and match-deciding frame. Brandl helped provide two of the final BSU points, coming up with a kill and teaming with McGinnis for a set-winning block.
In the match's final set, the Eagles used two kills from Baker and two BSU attack errors to pull out to an early 4-1 lead, prompting a BSU timeout. The Cardinals retaliated and tied the set at 5-5 after a pair of kills from Sullivan and a kill from Brandl.
Despite a service ace from Brandl and a kill from senior Alisha Green (Country Club Hills, Ill./University of Tampa), BSU trailed 8-7 as the teams switched sides.
Assisted by a pair of kills from Breivogel and a service ace from McGinnis, BSU tallied off four straight after the court switch to lead 11-8. The Eagles responded with three points of their own to tie things up at 11, but a kill from Green thwarted the EMU run.
Moments later the Eagles would reach their fourth match-point as a Ball State attack error pushed the score to 14-13. However, a Brandl kill tied up the set at 14 to set up the exciting finish.
Trailing at match-point for the fifth time at 15-14 after a kill from EMU's Cassie Sowers, BSU rallied with two consecutive points and an opportunity of its own to win the contest.
Following an Eagles timeout, the guests responded with a block from Baker and Jill Bates and a kill from Victoria Randolph for their sixth chance at victory at 17-16. However, Ball State's Green smashed her fifth kill of the night to push the score to 17-17.
Swartz's 17th marker of the night gave the Eagles their seventh match-point, and they would not be denied this time as an errant BSU attack ended the frame at 19-17 and the match at 3-2 in favor of Eastern Michigan.
The Cardinals continue their three-match homestand Sunday for a 1 p.m. showdown with MAC foe Central Michigan. The match will serve as senior day for BSU's three seniors: Julie Breivogel, Alisha Green and Elaina Kakatolis.
