The Ball State University men's volleyball team did not start off the way coach Joel Walton wanted it to in serving, which led to the team being swept by George Mason University.
Ball State started off with six serving errors in the first game and lost by five points.
"The team needed more consistency," Walton said. "They started off with strong serves and changed to easy serves that made the difference to play for the defense."
Into the second game, serving errors rose to nine with no leads by the Cardinals. Serves were more direct to the Patriots, and the Cardinals finished off with a four-point loss.
"The team only missed 11 serves and they had five aces," Walton said. "You wouldn't have expected them to play the way that they did."
The third game started off in the Cardinals' favor, but the lead only lasted for 10 points.
Three new players, Lee Meyer, Matt Sprague and Andy Nelson, were brought in by the third game. Both Meyer and Sprague ended the night off with a perfect serving record.
The third game finished off with 11 serving errors total and a game loss of six points.
George Mason's Andrew Dentler received 18 serves in the last game alone from the Cardinals. Dentler led the Patriots in receiving errors the entire game, ending the night with eight total.
"We should have taken advantage of that and continued to serve to him," Walton said.
Walton attributed the loss to the Patriots' consistency of passing well throughout the night.
"Our serving has to get better. It's one of two things that led to our loss [Thursday]," Walton said.
Both Ethan Pheister and Mark Termion ended all three games with zero serving errors.
The Cardinals' average increased throughout the match but George Mason pulled ahead with a consistent serving average to win the match.
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
