The comforts of home sound better everyday to the Ball Statewomen's volleyball team. During its third consecutive weekend onthe road, the Cardinals dropped all three matches they played atthe Pittsburgh Invitational to move to 3-7 on the season.
The losses mark a new low for the team, said head coach RandyLitchfield.
"We've hit bottom and I think teams need to do that sometimes,"he said.
Ball State opened the tournament Friday night againstPittsburgh. The Panthers had their way with the Cards and woneasily in three games.
"They are the most physical team we have faced all year with theexception of Southern Cal," Litchfield said. "They're a top 20 teamfrom what I've seen so far this year."
Saturday saw Ball State lose a pair of matches.
The early match against Robert Morris featured the Cardinalsfighting back from a two-game deficit to tie the match at two gamesa piece. The Cards ran out of gas in game five, though, to fall inthe match 3-2.
Although they lost, sophomore outside attacker Sarah Obras setschool records for kills (37) and attempts (108) in a match, andfreshman outside attacker Kelly Cochran registered a new schoolrecord for digs in a match with 39. At the same time, the teambroke the school record for digs in a match (136). The Cards alsonotched five Fitzgerald Field House records in the match. Most ofthe records did not come in the way Litchfield would have likedthough.
"Those are all very dubious honors," he said. "Not a one ofthose, except for Kelly's performance with her defense, which isgoing to be a great part of her game, is worth bragging about."
Cochran, who also had 12 kills in the match, was surprised ather record-setting performance.
"It didn't seem like I had that many, but it helps the team,"she said.
In their final game of the tournament, Ball State fell to Dayton3-0. Obras, who was named to the all-tournament team, led the Cardswith 11 kills.
The tournament was a learning experience according to seniordefensive specialist Meredith Fancher.
"I think we've seen a lot of things we need to work on," shesaid.
Even though the team is still banged up, Litchfield feels it isa necessity to get in the gym and toughen up.
"This is my fault," he said. "I told the team after this match(Dayton) that regardless of our health we need to get in the gym onMonday and we've got to start going at it. The chips will fallwhere they may, but we're not going to lose anymore matches becausewe're soft."
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