Thursday, March 2
Muncie, Ind.
7:30 pm
Ball State University
14-5, 6-4MIVA
2
vs
3
Grand Canyon
10-8,6-4MIVA
1
2
3
4
5
F
Grand Canyon
20
25
25
20
16
3
Ball State
25
21
23
25
14
2
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Szews’ 23 Kills Not Enough in Men’s Volleyball Loss to Grand Canyon
March 02, 2017 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. – It was a fight to the finish in Worthen Thursday night for the No. 11 Ball State men's volleyball team. The Cardinals suffered a disappointing loss to MIVA rival Grand Canyon, 3-2, despite a strong performance from freshman Matt Szews.
"We were out of system tonight," said head coach Joel Walton. "There was a huge difference in the way our middles played last night compared to tonight. It put a lot of pressure on our outside, which Szews was able to produce on. He led us in kills, but there was little help from the left side and the middle."
Szews came out firing, leading the team with 23 kills, a career high, for a .333 hitting percentage. Those 23 kills places the left-handed outside attacker 17th in school history (during rally scoring era) in kills in a five set match. The freshman also led the team in digs with nine. Brendan Surane also came out swinging and knocked down 13 kills, four digs and two block assists. Defensively, Matt Walsh had eight total blocks and Mitch Weiler added seven.
The opening set went to the home team, 25-20. The Cardinals went on a 4-0 run to win the set on a Grand Canyon attack error. Szews had five of Ball State's 13 kills along with three digs. Walsh had three of the Cardinals' seven blocks.
Grand Canyon came out to even the score 1-1 after taking set two. Szews had seven kills for a .400 hitting percentage in set number two. As a team, Ball State had 13 kills, 11 digs, two block assists and one service ace. The Lopes had nine kills and seven block assists in their second set victory, 25-21.
After the ten minute break, the two teams came out and battled hard in the third set. After 14 tied scores and four lead changes, Grand Canyon came out with the set three win, 25-23. Connor Gross and Walsh each had one solo block. Weiler added three block assists while Anthony Lebryk tallied two.
Ball State was able to claw their way back to win set four, 25-20. The Cardinals had 14 kills for a .393 hitting percentage. Szews and Surane each tallied four kills while Walsh and Lebryk each knocked down two. In the fourth set victory, Ball State had 6 team blocks.
The final set went down to the wire before Grand Canyon won on a Cody Williams' kill, 16-14. Surane, Szews and Walsh each had two kills. Edgardo Cartagena led the team with three digs in the fifth set.
The Ball State men's volleyball team moved to 14-5 overall and 6-4 in the MIVA. The Cardinals will have a short break before returning to action in the Ohio State Tournament against UC Irvine (March 10) and UC San Diego (March 11). Both matches are set to begin at 5 p.m.
"We have to make sure that next weekend we are ready to play on both nights. It can't just be a one night effort," added Walton.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
"We were out of system tonight," said head coach Joel Walton. "There was a huge difference in the way our middles played last night compared to tonight. It put a lot of pressure on our outside, which Szews was able to produce on. He led us in kills, but there was little help from the left side and the middle."
Szews came out firing, leading the team with 23 kills, a career high, for a .333 hitting percentage. Those 23 kills places the left-handed outside attacker 17th in school history (during rally scoring era) in kills in a five set match. The freshman also led the team in digs with nine. Brendan Surane also came out swinging and knocked down 13 kills, four digs and two block assists. Defensively, Matt Walsh had eight total blocks and Mitch Weiler added seven.
The opening set went to the home team, 25-20. The Cardinals went on a 4-0 run to win the set on a Grand Canyon attack error. Szews had five of Ball State's 13 kills along with three digs. Walsh had three of the Cardinals' seven blocks.
Grand Canyon came out to even the score 1-1 after taking set two. Szews had seven kills for a .400 hitting percentage in set number two. As a team, Ball State had 13 kills, 11 digs, two block assists and one service ace. The Lopes had nine kills and seven block assists in their second set victory, 25-21.
After the ten minute break, the two teams came out and battled hard in the third set. After 14 tied scores and four lead changes, Grand Canyon came out with the set three win, 25-23. Connor Gross and Walsh each had one solo block. Weiler added three block assists while Anthony Lebryk tallied two.
Ball State was able to claw their way back to win set four, 25-20. The Cardinals had 14 kills for a .393 hitting percentage. Szews and Surane each tallied four kills while Walsh and Lebryk each knocked down two. In the fourth set victory, Ball State had 6 team blocks.
The final set went down to the wire before Grand Canyon won on a Cody Williams' kill, 16-14. Surane, Szews and Walsh each had two kills. Edgardo Cartagena led the team with three digs in the fifth set.
The Ball State men's volleyball team moved to 14-5 overall and 6-4 in the MIVA. The Cardinals will have a short break before returning to action in the Ohio State Tournament against UC Irvine (March 10) and UC San Diego (March 11). Both matches are set to begin at 5 p.m.
"We have to make sure that next weekend we are ready to play on both nights. It can't just be a one night effort," added Walton.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
Team Stats
GCU
BALL
Kills
52
57
Errors
30
29
Attempts
130
145
Hitting %
.169
.193
Points
69.0
77.5
Assists
50
56
Aces
3
4
Blocks
14.0
16.5
Game Leaders
Kills
23
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OA
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's VolleyballMA
/ Men's VolleyballOA
/ Men's VolleyballOA
/ Men's VolleyballMA
/ Men's Volleyball
OA
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