Going into the weekend, the Ball State women's volleyball team(10-12, 5-5 Mid-American Conference) sat alone in first place atopthe MAC West Division. But after a pair of losses to NorthernIllinois (15-7, 4-5 MAC) and Western Michigan (12-9, 5-5 MAC), theCardinals now find themselves in a tie for third in thedivision.
According to head coach Randy Litchfield, the reasoning behindthe two defeats is quite simple: Ball State got outplayed.
"We were supposed to be a much better passing, receiving anddefensive team than both our opponents this weekend," he said. "Thestrangeness of the weekend was that we got massacred in all threeof those areas by our opponents. When you don't compete to yourstrengths, you deserve to lose, so we got just what we deservedthis weekend."
Friday night, the Cardinals came out strong against NorthernIllinois to take the first game. After that, the wheels fell offthe wagon and by the end of four games, Ball State was on the buswith a 3-1 loss. After hitting .300 in the opening stanza of thematch against the Huskies, Ball State feel to -.095 in game two andnever was able to put the pieces back together. The Cards finishedthe match hitting .157 compared to NIU's .200.
"We quit," Litchfield said. "In game one, we passed the ballextremely well and then it went away as fast as I can snap myfingers."
The result was even worse the next night against WesternMichigan when Ball State failed to win a single game in the 3-0rout by the Broncos. WMU topped BSU in blocks (14-2), digs (66-49)and hitting percentage (.272-.048).
Litchfield cited a variety of fundamental problems that led tothe Cardinals' poor showing, namely passing.
"We're not passing well," he said. "We're out of our offensivesystem probably over half the time so they are able to load theirblock up on the one zone we can set the ball into when you don'tpass well and then it is a massacre."
Despite the setback, senior defensive specialist MeredithFancher says she is not panicking.
"We just didn't come to play, and you get beat up when you don'tcome to play," she said. "We have to learn that whoever we areplaying, we have to step on the court ready to go each night."
One thing that is a growing concern for the team is theoverworking of sophomore outside attacker Sarah Obras, whocurrently leads the nation in attack attempts.
"I think we're looking at a worn down Sarah Obras right now,"Litchfield said. "I was a bit concerned about that all year and Ithink now it is upon us. Something is going to have to givehere."
For Fancher, the cure to Ball State's ills is just good-old hardwork.
"Everybody is OK," she said. "We just want to get this goingagain. We thought we had it going there for a little bit after lastweekend, so we're ready to get back in the gym, start working hardand be ready for the next one."
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