For the third time in four days the No. 14 Ball State University men's volleyball team lost a road conference match in five games.
Ball State blew a two-game lead as it lost to Loyola University 24-30, 30-32, 30-27, 33-31, 15-10 on Saturday in Chicago.
With this loss the Cardinals are on a three-match conference losing streak - their longest in more than three years. Ball State lost five-games matches to No. 15 Ohio State University on Wednesday and to No. 10 Lewis University on Friday.
Despite Ball State (10-7, 4-3 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) out-hitting Loyola for the match, the Ramblers had a match-high .667 attack percentage in the fifth game.
Coach Joel Walton said Ball State played alright against Loyola, a team it defeated at home two weeks ago. He also said the team struggled to finish the match, especially in the fifth game.
"Game five was bad," Walton said. "We passed horrible."
Both teams had a combined nine players finish the match with at least 10 kills. Ball State outside attacker Matt Sprague and Loyola outside attacker Nick Lamoureux each had a match-high 21 kills.
The Cardinals are in third place in the MIVA and trail the first-place Buckeyes by one-and-half matches.
Walton said this loss makes it unlikely that Ball State will win the conference regular season title and host the MIVA Tournament in late April.
For more men's volleyball coverage, pick up Monday's issue of The Ball State Daily News.
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
