Ball State's four set loss to IPFW was the first since 2007, but the matches were never easy for Ball State.
Neither was the match on Tuesday. IPFW (3-1) took the first two sets before Ball State (2-2) fought back to take the third set and extend the match before falling in four.
"It was just a real hard fought battle that both teams got into trading punches as the match went on," coach Steve Shondell said. "It took us awhile to play with the intensity that they were playing [with]."
In 2010 and 2011, Ball State beat IPFW in five sets and four sets respectively. Tuesday's four set loss (25-15, 29-27, 18-25, 25-21) started off in unfamiliar territory.
Ball State dropped the first set easily, allowing a .517 attack percentage in the set.
"I thought we would be more ready than we were at the beginning because of the rivalry," Shondell said. "They were just so hungry because they lost these last two years. They just looked like they had been waiting a year for this match."
Shondell said IPFW just came out to play after losing to Ball State the last two seasons.
In the second set, Ball State continued to struggle defensively but still pushed the set to overtime.
"We had a couple game points in the second set where we thought we had one a point, but they called a micro touch," Shondell said.
From there on, it was a "boxing match."
Shondell decided to expand his rotation and said redshirt freshman middle blocker Hayley Benson and freshman defensive specialist Taylor Richardson helped change the match's momentum.
Richardson provided 12 digs after receiving more playing time in the back row.
"She was a huge factor and the momentum switched in the match when she started playing defense in the right back position," Shondell said.
The 6-foot-4 Benson, who has spent some one-on-one time after practice with Shondell, came into the game to add some more height at the net, Shondell said.
"We didn't block a single ball for two [sets]," he said. "We brought Hayley Benson in and she actually gave us a big lift offensively and at least gave [us] a more physical presence at the net."
Benson added 6 kills on a .294 attack percentage.
Shondell said the key is to keep gaining more experience, especially playing on the road. Ball State is traveling to Indianapolis for the IUPUI Jaguars Hampton Inn Invitational starting on Friday.
Senior outside hitter Kara Bates led Ball State with a season-high 19 kills in the match.
The inconsistency between the setters and hitters that has plagued Ball State early this season improved on Tuesday, Shondell said.
Ball State finished with a .234 attack percentage and he said junior setter Jacqui Seidel played her best match yet. Seidel recorded another double-double with 48 assists and 14 digs.
Shondell said there is still a lot for Ball State to work on before they travel to Indianapolis.
"We still have a lot of work to do on our defense, especially our blocking," Shondell said. "We got to do a better job at blocking balls and a little better job at digging balls."
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