In front of a record 1,744 fans Ball State made a statement early against Tennessee State. The Cardinals fed off the energy of the record crowd en route to a 25-5 victory. Ball State used the momentum to sweep the match and remain undefeated.
Ball State scores 17 points in the third quarter to take a large lead into the final period.
Cory Sykes took the handoff from Kelly Page and bounced to the outside. From there it didn't matter that Sykes is one of the fastest players in the Mid-American Conference because even Ball State's slowest player could have walked into the end zone.
Opening Night looked like it was going to be a shootout between Ball State and Southeast Missouri State, but the defenses took over after each team's first possession.
Ball State will open the season Thursday night against Southeast Missouri State, eager to get back on the field after last fall's disappointments.
Sports editor Teddy Cahill breaks down the matchups in Thursday's game between Ball State and Southeast Missouri State.
Worthen Arena hasn't been a place for success. In the past four seasons, the Cardinals have struggled to a 17-32 regular-season record at home.
The Ball State cross-country team has high hopes and expectations for the upcoming season.
A "how-to guide" for tailgating at Ball State.
The Ball State women's volleyball team won the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougar Classic. Ball State swept its way through the weekend, defeating each opponent in three sets. The Cardinals defeated the host Cougars 25-23, 25-20, 25-18 to finish the weekend 3-0.
Kolbrin Vitek spent the summer getting used to playing professional baseball and relearning how to play third base. Tuesday night, the Red Sox decided their first-round draft pick had done enough to earn a promotion to low Class A Greenville.
The NCAA delivered good news to Ball State's women's volleyball program earlier this week when it ruled freshman Mindy Marx will be eligible to play this season.
Despite returning all five starters this fall, the offensive line remains Ball State's biggest unknown eight days before its season opener against Southeast Missouri State.
With a 2-0 record for the first time since 2005, Ball State soccer coach Craig Roberts is undefeated in his tenure.
Ball State's soccer team bullied its way to a 1-0 home win against Indiana State on Sunday.
One member of Ball State's women's volleyball's talented 2010 recruiting class may be ineligible this season because of dispute over a class she took in eighth grade, coach Steve Shondell said.
In their season opener against Xavier on Friday, the Cardinals defense stayed aggressive and controlled tempo all game en route to a 2-1 victory. Ball State never trailed, and its four defenders allowed only two shots on goal.
Ball State, which has a 1-14 Mid-American Conference record the past two seasons, will begin its season with the Ball State Fall Invitational on Sept. 18. It will be a chance for the Cardinals to focus on tennis instead of the off-field distractions.
As Ball State prepares to open its season, it has 11 freshmen and two transfer players on the roster, along with a new coach. Craig Roberts, who coached at Tennessee-Martin last season, replaces Michael Lovett and brings a different philosophy.
Ball State's most effective offensive weapon lost about 20 pounds after the season ended at Western Michigan in November. Coach Stan Parrish said Lewis is at 185 pounds, his lightest weight since his freshman season. The difference is already noticeable to MiQuale Lewis, who is ready to start running away from defenders again.
