Ball State University
9-2
Michigan State
9-1
Women's Volleyball Swept By Michigan State
September 17, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team opened play in the Spartan Invitational with a hard-fought 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-18) setback to tournament host Michigan State Friday evening at the Jenison Field House.
In the loss, eight different Cardinals (9-2) recorded at least one kill, paced by the effort of sophomore outside hitter Whitney Heeres (Flushing, Mich./Flushing Senior H.S.). Heeres also collected a pair of blocks and hit .333 (9-2-21).
In the BSU backcourt, libero Catie Fredrich (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls H.S.) continued her stellar sophomore season by collecting a match-best 11 digs. Fredrich has recorded double-digit digs in the last 10 contests, including match-high dig totals in Ball State's last eight outings.
Michigan State's (9-1) Jenilee Rathje led all players with 15 kills, while Kyndra Abron posted 10. Kori Monster added a team-high nine digs.
Overall, the Spartans limited the Ball State attack to a .189 (36-18-95) rate of success for the match, while connecting for a .279 (49-20-104) mark on offense. MSU also held a 10-7 advantage in team blocks and a 37-33 lead in team digs.
The Spartans took control early in the opening set, using a pair of kills and two blocks to pull ahead 5-1. Ball State capitalized on a kill from junior Kara Bates (Bradley, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais Community H.S.) and four MSU errors to battle back and tie the score at 6-6. Michigan State reclaimed its four-point lead at the 12-8 mark, only to see BSU fight back to even the set at 18-18.
BSU took its first advantage of the game on the next point, at 19-18, and would later hold the first set point at 24-23 on a block from sophomore middle blocker Mindy Marx (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven H.S.) and senior middle blocker/right side attacker Jennifer Boyd (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley H.S.). Unfortunately, MSU scored the final three points, winning the frame 26-24 on a kill from Becca Zlabis.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-1 led in the second set, only to see MSU rally back to tie the score at 4-4. The score remained deadlocked at the 13-13 mark before a three-point Spartans run gave the hosts a 16-13 advantage. Michigan State extended its lead to five points at 22-17, and despite a furious Ball State rally, held on to win the game 25-23.
Kills from Bates and Marx helped the Cardinals play to a 4-1 edge to open the third frame, only to have MSU battle back and tie the score at 5-5. The score remained tied at the 11-11 mark before another three-point MSU run changed the momentum of the frame. The Spartans would control play from there, winning the set 25-18.
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes play in the Spartan Invitational Saturday, with matches versus Sacred Heart (10 a.m.) and Virginia Commonwealth (5:30 p.m.).
