The Ball State University women's volleyball team lost 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13) to visiting University of Akron Sunday afternoon in the Cardinals' seventh five-set loss in nine opportunities.
Coach Dave Boos said his team was unable to gain the momentum in a back-and-forth battle.
"When something went wrong, we just weren't able to respond all that well," Boos said. "And from there, we just couldn't recover."
Throughout the match, Ball State (11-18, 6-8 Mid-American Conference) had problems overcoming the Zips' blocking attack.
Akron (11-14, 5-9 MAC) totaled 23 blocks in the match, including six from both Tina Dimitrijevs and Brionna Patterson.
"Akron came in ready to play and seemed like they wanted it more than we did," freshman defensive specialist Emily Fisher said. "We really seemed to have trouble running our offense around their block throughout the match."
Despite their troubles hitting over the Zips' blocks, the Cardinals had five players with double-digit kills.
Outside hitters junior Julie Breivogel and sophomore Hannah Sullivan had a team-high 14 kills, freshman middle blocker Jennifer Boyd totaled 12 kills, and junior opposite side attacker Elaina Kakatolis and sophomore middle blocker Charde' Phillips had 10 each.
Five Cardinals also totaled 10-plus digs, including sophomore libero Alyssa Rio's match-high 27 digs, Fisher and Sullivan's 13 digs, freshman setter Brittany McGinnis's 12 and freshman defensive specialist Christie Waters's 11 digs.
Boos said he was especially pleased with the play of Fisher, who saw her first action since recovering from a viral infection before the Indiana University Invitational on Sept. 19.
"I think Fish came in there and did everything that we could have asked of her today," Boos said. "She's always been just a fearless defender and a gutsy kid, and that's why we brought her here."
The Cardinals return to action at home on Friday for a 7 p.m. match against Western Michigan University.
Five things to take away1. The Ball State women's volleyball team lost 3-2 to Akron at home on Sunday.
2. Sunday was the Cardinals' seventh five-set loss in nine chances.
3. Akron totaled 23 blocks in the match.
4. Five players totaled double digits in both kills and digs for Ball State.
5. The Cardinals (11-18, 6-8 MAC) play Friday at home against Western Michigan.
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