The women's volleyball team continued to move through Octoberwithout being touched. Ball State defeated both Marshall andNorthern Illinois in straight sets over the weekend.
It has been over a month since the women's volleyball team losta match. That loss was to Ohio on Sept. 24, and since the team haswon nine straight matches, including eight in the Mid-AmericanConference.
During that time the Cardinals have also won 24 of their 29games and have won 15 straight. While winning is the obviousadvantage, head coach Randy Litchfield said there are otherbenefits to winning that many games in a row.
"I think it's a big benefit to us because we have small outsidehitters," Litchfield said. "Small outside hitters in a long year offour and five game matches can get worn out.
"It's great here in October to be finishing matches quickly justto save their legs."
On Friday both Ball State and Marshall appeared sluggish,especially on the offensive side. Marshall had a hitting percentageof .165 with 25 errors, while the Cardinals hit .220 and had sixerrors in each game.
"For whatever reason we were sloppy tonight, one of oursloppiest matches of the month without a doubt," Litchfield said."We were fortunate that they didn't play very well because thiswould have been a big time different outcome."
The Cardinals were able to control Marshall's Kelly-AnneBillingy, the MAC's kills per game leader, holding her to 15 killswith seven errors and a hitting percentage of .205.�
"I wanted to look at the stat sheet and see that we held herunder her averages and we held her way under," Litchfield said. "Wejust did a real nice job on her and forced a lot of other people tobeat us which they couldn't."
Ball State faced another strong hitter on Saturday in Northern'sTera Lobdell, who has the MAC's second best kills per game average.After allowing her to get eight kills in game one, the Cardinalsslowed her down as they match went on.�
In games one and three, Ball State's offense looked better thenit did the previous night, thanks to the many players who put insolid efforts at different times. Junior Melissa Oliver andsophomore Kelly Cochran both had good performances in game one.
Oliver had four kills in game one and finished with a seasonhigh seven, while Cochran had five and finished with nine. Obrasand Refenes warmed up as the match went on and both finished withdouble figure kill totals, 18 and 12, respectively.
"Our performances kind of took turns," Litchfield said. "That'sa nice way to do it because it really forces your opponent toconstantly readjust."
In both contests Ball State was able to out block theiropponents, getting 11 in each match. Refenes led the Cardinalsagainst Marshall with seven total blocks, while Obras led the teamagainst Northern with six total blocks, which tied her careerhigh.
For the weekend Stephanie Keller had 28 digs, which moves herinto five place for career digs in the NCAA record books.
Ball State has won 15 games in a row three previous times in itshistory, and their best streak of 23 came in November of 1993. Thiscurrent streak has the team feeling confident though with sevenmatches remaining in the regular season.
"Everyone's confidence is way up," Refenes said. "Yet we staygrounded that teams aren't going to lay down for us and we're goingto fight."
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