After losing three senior starters to suspension, the women’s volleyball team had a rough time at the Michigan State Invitational over the weekend. The under-manned team notched a 3-2 win over South Florida before falling to Wichita State, 3-1, and Michigan State, 3-0.
The loss of seniors Rachel Refenes, Stephanie Bacan and Kristin Westhof left the team unprepared and short-handed, coach Randy Litchfield said.
“We went into one of the best tournaments in the nation without any preparation,” he said. “It was a tough way to go and compete.”
The three women also will not compete in tonight’s game against IUPUI. Litchfield said tonight’s game will be the last game the three players will miss due to violations of the NCAA’s text book loan policy and all three will be ready to play this weekend.
Bacan’s absence left junior transfer Amanda McCormick the full-time libero for the squad this weekend. McCormick did not disappoint, earning a spot on the All-Tournament team after collecting 59 digs and earning a 4.92 digs-per-game average for the tournament.
“Amanda [McCormick] was very steady all weekend long,” Litchfield said. “With so many seniors back home she really had to step up.”
Tonight’s game against IUPUI will be the ninth meeting between the teams, with Ball State dominating the series 8-0. Litchfield said with three games played under the new line-up, the team should be prepared for the game.
“We’ve got the line-up we used at Michigan State so at least we have a little experience,” Litchfield said. “I expect us to be sharp for the game.”
The weekend started with a come-from-behind win against South Florida. The Cardinals trailed South Florida 10-7 in the fifth game before erupting for eight straight points to take the game. Junior Kelly Cochran led the team with 17 kills and senior Sarah Obras collected her first double-figure kill game of the season with 13, while adding 12 digs.
Cochran again led Ball State in the second game on Friday against Wichita State. She scored 13 kills and added 14 digs.
Sophomore Brittany May paced the Cardinals with eight kills against Michigan State and Sophomore Angie Parrell added 19 assists.
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