Sophomore outside attacker Marcin Niemczewski delivers his serve against Sacred Heart on Jan. 11. Niemczewski had a career high of 25 kills against Princeton in the five-set victory. DN FILE PHOTO COREY OHLENKAMP
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: 5th-set dominance proves vital for Cardinals

There’s nothing left to hold back during a fifth set. Ball State has proven that recently. Over the men’s volleyball team’s last three games, two of them have gone to a fifth set. Both times, Ball State slammed the door in its opponents face. “You don’t want to be passive because it’s not a game where you approach hoping to win points or waiting to see what happens,” head coach Joel Walton said.




Sophomore Nathalie Fontaine looks for an open teammate against Central Michigan Feb. 6 at Worthen Arena. DN PHOTO SAMANTHA BLANKENSHIP
SPORTS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State knocks off Northern Illinois

Looking to get back on the winning side, Ball State’s women’s basketball team went on the road and beat Northern Illinois, 63-50. Sophomore forward Nathalie Fontaine paced the Cardinals with 18 points, leading an offense that shot a season-high 50 percent. Six of those points came from three-pointers: shots that Fontaine isn’t used to attempting.


Senior middle attack Kevin Owens jumps to hit the ball to the McKendree side during the first set Jan. 24 at Worthen Arena. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Ball State knocks off Princeton is five sets

Ball State came back to knock off Princeton University Saturday night after dropping the first two sets and winning in five (21-25), (19-25), (22-20), (26-24), (15-4). Cardinals outside attacker Marcin Niemczewski set a new career-high in kills with 25, adding seven digs. The offense struggled as a whole during the first two sets, hitting .000 partway through the second set. With the third set tied at 16, Ball State went on a 4-0 run spurred by kills on behalf of Niemczewski and Matt Sutherland.


Senior center Majok Majok drives the ball past a Toledo player in the second half Feb. 8 at Worthen Arena. Majok scored 17 points. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Losing streak continues as Ball State falls to Toledo

Ball State gave Mid-American Conference leader Toledo all it could handle Saturday afternoon in its 80-73 loss, falling to 4-17 on the year. The Cardinals played with strong effort in a game where personal fouls seemed to take dominance over the play of both teams. “They’re 20-3,” Ball State basketball head coach James Whitford said.



Freshman guard Zavier Turner goes for a shot in the paint against Toledo Feb. 8 at Worthen Arena. Turner scored 19 points for Ball State. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Point guard battle heats up in Toledo loss

Ball State freshman point guard Zavier Turner faced some big challenges this season, but perhaps none bigger than Saturday’s matchup guarding Toledo’s point guard Julius “Juice” Brown, a member of the preseason All-MAC team. The matchup didn’t disappoint for those watching at Worthen Arena.


Junior guard Brittany Carter attempts to shoot the ball against Buffalo Jan. 26 at Worthen Arena. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State blows lead, loses in overtime

The basketball ended up in the hands of Ball State junior guard Brittany Carter for a final desperation three-point heave in overtime. With six seconds remaining in the extra period, Ball State needed a three-pointer to tie and go to double overtime with the Mid-American Conference leading Central Michigan Chippewas. Carter missed the three-point attempt from the left corner, as the ball fell just short of the hoop, keeping Central Michigan perfect in MAC play at 10-0. “What we were trying to do was back screen with Shelby Merder,” Ball State head coach Brady Sallee said.


Freshman forward Shelby Merder and sophomore guard Nathalie Fontaine try to block a Buffalo player in the first half Jan. 26 at Worthen Arena. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cardinals can't contain Bradford in loss

Holding a 19-point lead in the second half, not many things could have doomed the Ball State women’s basketball team. An offensive explosion from Crystal Bradford was one of them. Central Michigan’s Bradford had just two points at half time but scored 24 in the final 25 minutes to knock off Ball State 84-81 in overtime. “I expected that kind of performance from her,” Ball State head coach Brady Sallee said.







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