Ball State pick 'em
November 11, 2009Vote on the polls on the right side of this screen for who you think will win each Ball State game this week.
Vote on the polls on the right side of this screen for who you think will win each Ball State game this week.
Six letterwinners, nine newcomers litter roster of Ball State team that is the defending co-MAC West Champs
The 2008-09 Ball State University women's basketball season is one that nobody will soon forget. But moving on is exactly what the 2009-10 squad is hoping to accomplish as it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. to take on the University of Michigan in its season opener.
Each week, The Daily News' sports crew picks its PPQ - the play, player and quote of the week.But it doesn't stop there. With the help of our online voters, the weekly fan choice is also featured.
Ball State University men's volleyball starter Billy Ebel watched as the Southwood High School girl's volleyball team scored to tie Burris Laboratory School in a state championship match Saturday. With the score at 12 in the third set, Ebel got up quickly from his seat among the Burris assistant coaches and walked quickly to the sidelines to yell defensive instructions to the girls, who risked blowing their two-game lead in their biggest match of the season.
Men's basketball beat writer Teddy Cahill breaks down what you need to know about men's basketball in the MAC this season.
Women's basketball beat writer Daniel Sipocz breaks down the matchups in BSU's season opener at Michigan.
The starting quarterback Thursday night for Northern Illinois University is unknown, but Ball State University won't be changing their approach no matter who is under center. Sophomore Chandler Harnish returned to practice this week after missing the last three games with a knee injury. Fellow sophomore DeMarcus Grady has started in Harnish's place and is 3-0 as a starter.
Coming off their first ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, the Cardinals return to the floor Friday night in Ann Arbor, Mich., against the University of Michigan.
Cardinals expect a more exciting style of play this year.
With Ball State University's offense focused on the rushing attack, wide receiver Briggs Orsbon has had to adjust his role.Orsbon has been the Cardinals' leading receiver the past two years, but without Kelly Page leading the offense, receptions have been hard to come by. In 2 1/2 games since taking over for Page, Tanner Justice has just 14 completions.Ball State's new run-first scheme has forced Orsbon and the other wide receivers to do more blocking.
Junior libero Alyssa Rio was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon. She is the first Cardinal player to earn the defensive award this season. Rio's combined performance over the weekend against Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan University earned her the honor. Against Eastern Michigan Friday, Rio posted a season-high 34 digs. She followed that performance up with a 19 dig effort Sunday in helping the Cardinals to a 3-0 sweep of Central Michigan while holding the Chippewas to a -.412 hitting percentage in the third set, the lowest output by a Ball State opponent in rally scoring.
For safety Kyle Hoke, Ball State University football is a family tradition.His father, Jon, played for the Cardinals from 1976-1979 and his mother was Homecoming Queen and the daughter of former assistant coach Jim Hilles. And of course, Kyle's uncle, Brady, the former Ball State captain and head coach can't be forgotten either.
Ball State University men's swimming and diving won seven events in their season debut Saturday, but fell short to the University at Buffalo, losing 158-137.
The Ball State University men's basketball team will have at least three opportunities in the first two months of the season to show Indiana where it stands among the best college basketball programs in the state.
The Ball State University athletics department has yet to begin its search for a new women's tennis coach, according to athletics director Tom Collins.
After starting the season strong last weekend, the women's swimming and diving team failed to find the same spark, losing to both the University of Akron and the University at Buffalo. With the losses, Ball State drops to 1-3, both on the season and in Mid-American Conference play.
For Stan Parrish and Ball State University, the bye week came at just the right time in their schedule.Nine weeks into the season, the Cardinals were able to take a break for the first time this year. Now they are preparing for their final three games.
