A road trip is usually a great chance for a team to gain some motivation and momentum. For Ball State University's women's volleyball team, it was a chance to find some chemistry and direction. Unfortunately it turned into a time where the Cardinals were consistently on the defensive. The team visited the University of Western Kentucky for the 'Lady Topper Invitational' over the weekend at E.A. Diddle Arena.
"Our goal was to go 3-0," head coach Randy Litchfield said. "From that perspective it was a devastating weekend."
The Cardinals started off the weekend on Friday against Tennessee Technological University. Freshman Julie Breivogel got things rolling quickly with a kill for Ball State. After 15 ties, and eight lead changes, Tennessee Tech won game one 31-29.
Litchfield says late game performance, especially in the final five points of games, is where the Cardinals are falling apart.
After four more grueling games, Ball State handed Tennessee Tech the match 2-3 (29-31, 30-21, 30-17, 29-31, 8-15). Highlighting the match for Ball State was senior Kelly Cochran who recorded 19 kills, 17 digs, three assists and two digs.
"I feel like Cochran played really big for us this weekend," senior Amanda McCormick said. "A lot of the freshman are doing very well. Everyone is doing little things right, all of us need to show up together to be successful."
Having a chance for redemption against Appalachian State University, Ball State got off to another quick start winning game one, 30-24. Appalachian State quickly rebounded, however, winning the subsequent three games to win the match 3-1 (30-24, 22-30, 18-30, 28-30). Again the highlight of the match was Cochran who, with her 11 kills became the fifth women's volleyball player to join the (1,000 kill/1,000 dig) club.
"Kelly has had such a great career," Litchfield said. "We've got to get her to stop pressing and play volleyball like she's capable of."
The third and final match of the long weekend came against the host Western Kentucky University. The Cardinals could only improve as they looked to steal a game or two.
The match began with Western Kentucky getting out to an early advantage, before the Cardinals exploded with a seven-to-one run and tied the score at 18-18 with a kill by freshman Rachel Alcorn. After being tied at 23-23 the Hilltoppers returned the favor with a seven-to-one run of their own to win game one 30-24.
Ball State forfeited games two and three to lose the match 0-3 (30-24, 30-24, 30-28)
"This is not a rut," McCormick said. "I absolutely refuse to let that happen. We're lucky that it's still non-conference. It will not continue the rest of the season. I cannot allow this team to let this happen. We need to be stepping up and becoming leaders."
Ball State's next match is another road contest at Wright State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. as the Cardinals hope to break their three-game losing streak.
"The players were down," Litchfield said. "I hoped that beating them down [in practice] would make them get more aggressive, but it didn't. I think we'll focus a lot more on execution, and trying to have fun with the game."
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
