Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
14-4, 4-2MAC
Buffalo
14-8, 2-4MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 26 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 13 | 2 |
| Buffalo | 28 | 20 | 25 | 19 | 15 | 3 |
Women's Volleyball Suffers 3-2 Setback At Buffalo
October 10, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. - - Despite a match-high and career-best 19 kills from freshman outside hitter Whitney Heeres (Flushing, Mich./Flushing Senior H.S.), the Ball State women's volleyball team suffered a 3-2 (28-26, 20-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-13) setback at Buffalo's Alumni Arena Saturday evening.
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 14-4 (4-2 Mid-American Conference) on the season. The Bulls improve to 14-8 (2-4 MAC) with the victory.
"Tonight's match was a true defensive battle," said head coach Steve Shondell. "I am proud of the way we were able to fight back and even the match with a solid fourth-game effort. Unfortunately, Buffalo made some big defensive plays late in the fifth to rally from down 11-7 and win the match."
Heeres also led the Cardinals with a .226 (19-7-53) attack percentage, while adding four digs and a block assist. Junior middle blocker Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North H.S.) added 12 kills in the contest, while earning a team-best five blocks, including two solo stuffs.
In addition to Brandl, junior setter Brittany McGinnis (Fraser, Mich./Fraser H.S.) had a strong night at the net, tying for team-high honors with five blocks, including a career-best three solo blocks.
In the backcourt, senior libero Alyssa Rio (Wayne, Ill./St. Francis H.S.) collected a match-best 27 digs, leading her closest competitor by three. Senior outside hitter Hannah Sullivan (New Albany, Ind./New Albany H.S.) added a career-best 23 digs in the contest, to help BSU to a slim 91 to 89 edge in the backcourt.
Also earning double-digit digs for Ball State were freshman defensive specialist Catie Fredrich (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls H.S.) with 12 and freshman outside hitter Kylee Baker (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North H.S.) with 11.
Overall, the teams combined for 27 total blocks, with Buffalo holding a 15 to 12 lead in team blocks. Both offenses struggled due to the strong defensive play, with BSU connecting for a .106 (55-35-189) rate of success, compared to a .130 (57-32-193) effort for UB.
Buffalo's Marisa Hornbaker and Kristin Bignell tied for team-high honors with 10 kill apiece, while Kayla Govier added nine to go along with nine total blocks. Heather Pyle led the Bulls' backcourt with 24 digs, while Hornbaker added 10 for a double-double. Bignell also collected a double-double, adding a match-best 10 total blocks to her 10 kills.
The opening set was the closest of the night, with the team's battling through 15 ties and seven lead changes. With the score knotted at 22, a kill from UB's Dana Musil and a BSU attack error gave the hosts the first set point at 24-22. The Cardinals promptly responded with a Mindy Marx (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven H.S.) kill and a block from Brandl and Baker to even the score at 24.
The teams traded the next four points, moving the score to 26-26, before a Kelly Svoboda service ace and a Hornbaker kill gave the hosts a 28-26 win in the frame.
In the second set, UB pulled out to a 10-5 lead, only to have BSU battle back and tie the score at 14. From there, the teams played to a 20-20 tie, before five-straight BSU points helped the Cardinals even the match at one set apiece. In the final five-point run, Heeres, McGinnis and Brandl each blasted a kill.
The teams traded the first two points of the third game, a before an 8-3 Buffalo run gave the hosts the lead for good in the set at 9-4. Ball State was able to battle back within two, at 16-14, only to have the Bulls score nine of the final 14 points to win the set 25-19 on a Pyle service ace.
The fourth set saw the teams play to a 7-7 stalemate before a 6-1 run by the Cardinals, included aces from Fredrich and Sullivan, gave the guests a 13-8 lead. Ball State extended its lead to as many as seven points, before winning the 25-19 on a UB service error.
Ball State gained control of the fifth set early, scoring five of the first six points thanks in part to kills from Sullivan and Brandl. BSU looked poised to win the frame with an 11-7 lead after back-to-back Heeres markers.
Unfortunately, Govier collected two kills and a block assist, helping Buffalo rally back and tie the score at 12. BSU gained the lead one more time at 13-12, only to have a Bignell kill and an Abby Niekamp solo block give the hosts match-point at 14-13. Buffalo went on to win the set 15-13 on a BSU attack error.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Friday, when it hosts Ohio for a 7 p.m. first serve at Worthen Arena.
