The troubles continue for the Ball State women's volleyball team(7-10, 2-3 Mid-American Conference), who dropped its thirdconsecutive MAC match on Friday by losing to Marshall (13-7, 3-1MAC) in five games.
As they have in recent matches, the Cardinals came out strongand took the first game, but then lost the next two.
"We're just becoming so consistent at getting good starts on theroad and collapsing in the center of matches," head coach RandyLitchfield said.
After falling behind two games to one, Ball State fought back bywinning a tight game four to force a deciding game five. In thatgame, the Cardinals took an early 8-2 lead, and it looked as ifthey had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Marshall,though, thought otherwise and tallied six points in a row to tie itup. Eventually, Ball State earned a match-point at 15-14, but theHerd countered with three straight points to steal the win backfrom the Cards.
On the night, Litchfield said that it was Marshall's balancethat gave his team the most difficulties.
"It feels like those are the teams that are giving us the mosttrouble," he said. "We have a couple of talented blockers and acouple of talented backcourt defenders, but teams that utilize alot of balance really spread us out."
Compounding the Cards' problems was once again a series ofmiscues in the passing game.
"The other thing we're not doing is passing the ball reallywell," Litchfield said. "That is something that for three straightmatches is normally a strength but is now hurting us."
For the first time all season, sophomore outside attacker SarahObras did not lead Ball State in kills for the match. Obrasregistered 19, while redshirt sophomore Melissa Oliver paced theCardinals with 20 kills.
Litchfield said that Obras' performance was still impressiveconcerning she had undergone surgery earlier in the week to takecare of a recent bladder problem that had been causing her a gooddeal of back pain.
"Sarah put forth a pretty amazing effort just to play," he said."She had surgery Tuesday and then practiced a little on Thursdayand competed Friday. She was definitely not 100% by any means."
In Litchfield's opinion, Obras should be back to full strengthfor the Cards' next match, which is on Tuesday at Worthen Arenaagainst Miami.
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