After Northern Illinois' Kate McCullagh ran all over the Cardinals the last time the two teams met, Ball State's women's volleyball team made plans for the next time it played the Huskies.
The Cardinals wanted to give the Huskies a piece of their own medicine.
When the two teams played on October 15, McCullagh, Northern Illinois' middle attacker had 31 kills for the Huskies over five games, or just over six kills per game. She added a solo block and five block assists in the Huskies 3-2 win.
"After what she did to us over at their place, we sure owed her one," coach Randy Litchfield said.
During Friday's match Rachel Refenes had 24 in three games, or eight kills per game. She hit for a career high .611 hitting percentage, had three block assists, and a solo block.
"It was just an absolutely monster performance for Rachel [Refenes]," Litchfield said.
Refenes led the way for the Cardinals, helping Ball State score it's forth straight win, 3-0.
"We've been working on setting middle in practice," Refenes said. "It really payed off tonight."
The Cardinals (14-8, 7-4 in the Mid-American Conference) also shut down the Huskies' (12-14, 4-7 MAC) McCullagh, holding her to a season low 12 kills while she tallied 10 attack errors and a .045 hitting percentage.
"We wanted to focus on her, we felt she made us look stupid last time we played her," Refenes said.
Refenes was just the top performer in an incredible show of offense from the Cardinals. Ball State's team hitting percentage was .425, the fifth highest in school history. The Cardinals added 10 service errors, 53 digs, seven blocks, and had only six attack errors.
"For a team to only have six attack errors is just shocking," Litchfield said. "It's almost unheard of in major college volleyball."
Ball State will move on to face Western Michigan (15-7, 8-4 MAC), who is currently half a match in front of the Cardinals in the MAC West.
"It's not that our focus is on the MAC West or anything else," Litchfield said. "Tomorrow night is a huge test because of what Western did to us a few weeks ago."
The Cardinals lost 3-2, but were dominated in the first two sets, failing to score 20 points.
"With any luck right now we're peaking right now, I like having a deep roster and right now the bench looks good."
Notes: Refenes tied a season high with 24 kills. While it was three short of her career record, it was the most kills in a three game match. Her previous high was 17. Of the current Cardinal lineup on Sarah Obras has more kills in a three game match with 25 in Worthen Arena against Ohio in 2003.
McCullagh leads the MAC in kills per game with 5.44. Refenes moved into third place with her performance Friday at 4.38 kills per game. Shaylen Jackson, who the Cardinals will see today, is fourth in the MAC with 4.36.
At one point during game two Sarah Obras served 13 straight points, the second longest for the Cardinals on the season. Amanda McCormick served 15 points against Central Michigan on October 21. The NCAA record is 17, held by Elena Garcia of Mississippi.
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