For the second straight match, the Ball State women’s volleyball team needed five sets to try and close out an opponent.
However, the team suffered its second consecutive loss, losing to Miami (Fla.) in the HotelRED Invitational. The Cardinals dropped their first game of the tournament to Missouri State.
The Cardinals jumped out to a quick 2-0 match lead before the Hurricanes came back to win three consecutive sets.
Offensively, the Cardinals were fairly consistent throughout. They recorded 55 kills with a .184 attack percentage.
Redshirt freshman Sabrina Mangapora had double-digit kills for the second consecutive match. She led the team in kills with 15. Starting setter Jenna Spadafora registered 12 kills, as she was the only other Cardinal in double digits.
Spadafora also tallied 38 assists.
The Cardinals held the Hurricanes to just a .107 attack percentage through the first two sets. Miami (Fla.) then had 41 kills in the final three sets on an attack percentage of .441.
Ball State registered nine blocks, led by redshirt junior Hayley Benson with one solo block and four assists. Spadafora had six assists while middle blocker Amanda Raker had four.
Alex Fuelling, starting at libero for the second straight game, led the Cardinals with 22 digs. Junior Kati Vasalakis had 12.
Ball State will play its final game of the tournament at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 13 against No. 4 Wisconsin.