Members of the Ball State men’s basketball program walked off Worthen Arena’s hardwood floor with their fists clenched in the air and their heads high Jan.
Ball State men’s volleyball players Marcin Niemczewski and David Ryan Vander Meer won weekly awards for their efforts against IPFW, according to an email from Jessica Souto, media relations assistant director. Niemczewski was named the AVCA player of the week.
At the beginning of the season, the Ball State men’s basketball team exhibited youth, experience and variety in its roster. Cardinals head coach James Whitford would commonly use a rotation that consisted of four freshmen, Zavier Turner, Franko House, Mark Alstork, Quinten Payne, and sophomore Bo Calhoun as they started off 2-2. “That’s the team you’re going to see all season,” Whitford said.
_David Polaski is a junior journalism and telecommunications major and writes ‘Dave’s Digs’ for the Daily News.
When Ball State played IPFW Friday, the players knew they’d need to have their best defensive effort of the season. But with Shane Witmer’s solo block atthe end of the match, the Cardinals accomplished that goal. “The blockers played a great game, and when attackers are forced to go around that, you’ve got a great picture of the ball,” Ball State libero David Ryan Vander Meer said.
Three individuals scored in double figures for Ball State, but the women’s basketball team fell to Kent State 57-60 Sunday night.
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The women’s tennis team continued to perform well early this season, winning its fifth match of the season today against Cleveland State, 6-1. Ball State started off by winning the doubles point with a 6-3 win from the team of Toni Ormond and Kristel Sanders, a 6-3 loss by the doubles team of Bethany Moore and Courtney Earnest and a close 7-6 win from Courtney Wild and Ashlyn Rang.
David K. Jones | @dkjones_BSU | Chief Reporter Most of the 2,786 people in Worthen Arena stood in shock after seeing Ball State blow its lead with just seconds remaining. With 16.3 left in the fourth quarter, Ball State was ahead.
With 16.3 seconds left in regulation, Northern Illinois was down by two as guard Travon Baker drove to the rim, making contact with Ball State’s Majok Majok. Majok blocked the shot, but he fouled Baker in the process for his fifth and final foul of the game.
• Ball State seniors compete in final home meet. • The Cardinals grab four event wins. • Four Cardinals set season-best times.
Sometimes, feet work better than hands. With his team leading in the fifth set 12-8, Ball State’s David Ryan Vander Meer charged the net. An IPFW player threw down an attack.
Though the Ball State gymnastics team set a season-high mark of 193.025 on Friday, it couldn’t defeat visiting Bowling Green. “We are getting better little by little, we just have to stay on our game,” head coach Joanna Saleem said. After setting a season-high mark last week as well, the Cardinals kept momentum rolling.
Ball State named a new defensive coordinator, former Georgetown head coach Kevin Kelly. “We are very fortunate to bring a defensive coach with Kevin’s experience, expertise and integrity to the Ball State football program at this time,” Ball State head coach Pete Lembo said in a press release. Kelly was the head coach of Georgetown from 2007-13.
When IPFW hosts Ball State on Friday night, there will be former Cardinals coaching from both benches. Ball State alumni will lead both of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association teams.
Coming off its strongest meet of the season, the Ball State gymnastics team hopes to carry momentum into the next competition.
Consecutive losses left the Ball State women’s basketball team with its back against the wall, forcing it to change its own momentum. “We didn’t want a repeat performance of what we had the other night [against Buffalo],” head coach Brady Sallee said.
• Cardinals are 0-10 on the road. *• This game has the Cardinals’ lowest scoring output since scoring 50 points Dec.
For years, Ball State has been one of the top blocking teams in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, often ranking first in the conference in blocks per set during previous seasons. The men’s volleyball team takes pride in preventing opponents from getting the ball across the net, shutting down the offense before the ball has a chance to hit the floor. “Blocking well starts before the ball is even served,” head coach Joel Walton said.
Three weeks after the first matchup, the Ball State men’s basketball team will have a chance to avenge the 68-72 loss against Akron tonight. Akron leads the Mid-American Conference in three-point percentage and total three-pointers made, with .355 and 143, respectively.
