Ball State University
3-1 (1-1MIVA)
Grand Canyon
1-6 (0-1MIVA)
Men's Volleyball Tops Grand Canyon; 3-1
January 22, 2010 | Men's Volleyball
Muncie, Ind. - - Behind a career-high 19 kills from junior Lee Meyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller H.S.), the Ball State men's volleyball team out-slugged visiting Grand Canyon University for a 3-1 (30-32, 31-29, 30-23, 30-25) Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association victory Thursday night at Worthen Arena.
Playing their first home match of the season, the Cardinals improve to 3-1 (1-1 MIVA) with the win. The Antelopes, who were playing in their first-ever MIVA league match, fall to 1-6 (0-1 MIVA) with the loss.
"Being a league match, this was an important win for our team," said Ball State head coach Joel Walton. "I give Grand Canyon a lot of credit, as they came out and really challenged us in their first match as part of the league. I am looking forward to playing them again at their place in March."
In addition to his career-high and match-best 19 kills, Meyer added a career-best 15 digs for his first career double-double. He also hit for a .318 (19-5-44) rate of success, while serving up an ace.
"Lee did a nice job picking up our left side offense tonight," added Walton. "He was able to effectively pick his shots and provided critical kills when we needed them."
In addition to Meyer, three other BSU players slugged double-figure kills in the contest, with junior J.D. Gasparovic (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville H.S.), freshman Jamion Hartley (North Chicago, Ill./North Chicago H.S.) and freshman Larry Wrather (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forrest H.S.) each collecting 10.
In the backcourt, reigning MIVA Defensive Player of the Week Billy Ebel (Lenexa, Kan./Bishop Miege H.S.) turned in another solid effort by collecting a match-high 20 digs. The effort marks the second time in his career the libero has posted 20-or-more digs. Trent Bruns also had a solid match for Grand Canyon, adding a team-high 19 digs of his own.
Both teams also turned in solid efforts at the net, with BSU collecting 14.5 team blocks, compared to 10.5 for GCU. Junior Anders Nelson (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St Croix Falls H.S.) led the Cardinals with a career-high tying nine block assists, while Chris Lockwood added a team-high six total blocks, including three solo stuffs, for the 'Lopes.
Three Grand Canyon players finished the night with double-figure kills, led by Brock Hutchins with 17. Robbie Brannick added 14, while Lockwood scored 11.
For the match, the Ball State offense connected for a .199 (65-32-166) rate of success, while the Antelopes hit .170 (57-30-159) in the contest. BSU also held a 65-to-59 edge in total digs.
Gasparovic opened the match with a kill for the Cardinals, only to have Grand Canyon capitalize on a pair of errors to pull ahead 2-1. Later in the set, the guests used a kill from Taylor Griffin and two more BSU errors to claim a 9-5 advantage.
The first-year MIVA members looked poised to end the first set quickly, extending the lead to 26-20, only to have the Cardinals come to life with the next four points, including a Meyer kill and a Gasparovic service ace. The hosts drew within one moments later, as a Nelson kill pushed the score to 27-26.
GCU's Connor Dougherty and Hutchins followed with kills on two of the next three rallies to give the guests game-point at 29-27. A 'Lopes service error and an ace from Nelson followed, tying the set at 29-29. After the teams traded the next two points, a Griffin kill and a BSU attacking error helped Grand Canyon win its first-ever MIVA game 32-30.
The teams battled to a 5-5 tie to open the second game, before a GCU service error and Gasparovic kill sparked the Cardinals to a 7-5 edge. A few rallies later, a Dominic Spadavecchio (Palatine, Ill./William Fremd H.S.) kill upped the BSU lead to 13-10 and forced the 'Lopes to use their first timeout.
Grand Canyon responded with four of the next five points, including a pair kills from Hutchins to tie the frame at 14. With the score tied at 20, a Lockwood ace sparked a 3-0 GCU run, giving the guests a 23-20 edge. Ball State battled back to tie the game at 24 with a 4-1 run capped by a Wrather smash.
With Grand Canyon leading 28-27, a kill from Hartley and a block assist from Ethan Pheister (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood H.S.) and Nelson gave BSU the first game point at 29-28. A Griffin kill kept the guests alive, before markers from Meyer and Pheister ended the game at 31-29 in favor of the Cardinals.
The 'Lopes scored the first two points of the third game, only to have three Wrather kills lead BSU on a 7-2 run and force a timeout at 7-4. After a Meyer kill gave BSU a 13-10 lead, three Cardinals' errors and two Hutchins markers put Grand Canyon ahead 15-13.
The lead was short-lived, however, as BSU responded with the next two points. With the score still tied at 18, a block from Hartley and Gasparovic sparked a 5-1 BSU run, moving the score to 23-19.
Grand Canyon would get as close at two points, at 24-22, only to see the Cardinals answer with six of the final seven points. A Warther kill set up game point, while a 'Lopes error ended the stanza at 30-23.
After a 3-3 start to the fourth frame, two more Meyer kills helped Ball State post five of the next six point to build an 8-4 edge. With the Cardinals leading 9-5, it was the Antelopes turn to rally, as they fought back to even the game at 10 on a 5-1 run capped by a Lockwood solo block.
Following a timeout, a pair of Hartley kills momentarily moved the momentum back to the Ball State side of the court as the hosts pulled ahead 12-10. Grand Canyon would eventually tie the score at 15, thanks to a Griffin kill, and after falling behind 19-16, battle back to a 19-19 deadlock.
With the Cardinals holding a slim 22-21 lead, Nelson slammed a kill and joined Pheister for a block assist to help spark a 5-1 BSU run, pushing the score to 27-22. After GCU cut the gap to 28-25, a Wrather kill gave the Cardinals match point. Then, behind some stellar defensive saves, BSU's Wrather put away the match winner at 30-25.
The Ball State men's volleyball team continues its five-match home stand Friday, with a 7:30 p.m. first serve versus Carthage. Last Saturday, the Cardinals score a 3-1 (22-30, 30-24, 31-29, 30-26) victory over the Red Men in Kenosha, Wis.
