The men's volleyball team scored two big conference wins this weekend, moving into third place in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Ball State defeated IPFW and Mercyhurst.
"We're seeing our guys rise to a challenge and really start to play well together," head coach Joel Walton said. "I'm starting to see a lot of different areas of our team's play where the guys are believing in one another."
Luis Castera helped lead the charge by notching 20 kills at IPFW on Saturday. Along with his help, the Cardinals defeated the Mastodons 3-1 (30-26, 30-20, 20-30, 33-31).
Ball State (15-13, 10-5 MIVA) took the lead early against IPFW (10-14, 8-6 MIVA) in the first game, battling to remain in control. Castera scored a kill to open the lead to 23-19, and the Mastodons never got close again.
After trading the lead several times in game two, BSU flew past IPFW with two kills by Castera and one from Evan Berg to make the game 19-15.
Poor passing caused the offense to flop in the third game, while IPFW found an edge in Serdar Sikca, who scored four kills in a row to help the Mastodons win the game.
Both teams increased the pressure in the fourth, with neither one taking more than a one-point advantage until late in the game. A kill by outside attacker Durbin, who scored a season-high 13 kills, finally won the match for the Cards.
Berg also contributed 13 kills. BSU out-dug the Mastodons 60-45. Both teams suffered from poor serving, with Ball State committing 24 errors and IPFW 19.
Continued poor passing was almost Ball State's downfall at Mercyhurst (9-12, 5-11) Sunday. However, an improved defense helped the Cards make comebacks in all three games to win the match 3-0 (30-24, 30-28, 30-24).
BSU trailed 28-23 in the second game but scored seven points in a row, including five on blocks, to take the game.
Castera again led the Cards with 11 kills, and middle attacker Zoran Grabovac added eight. The team had 13 blocks. Ball State overcame the poor serving from the previous night, committing only nine errors to the Lakers' 17 -- 10 of them in the second game.
Ball State will play its last conference match of the season at home against MIVA leader Loyola at 7 p.m. Friday.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
