On Friday evening, Ball State added another piece to its growing tradition. The Cardinals’ decisive 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-16) victory over Central Michigan (6-8, 0-2 MAC) marked the program’s 1000th win in its 52-season history.
In just 1:28 on court Thursday night, the Cardinals quickly reversed their fortunes from last season. Ball State dismantled the Chippewas (6-7, 0-1 MAC) in a MAC-opening sweep (25-15, 25-21, 27-25).
Although the Cardinals were gearing up for a doubleheader with Central Michigan – the same team they faced in last year’s conference debut – the red and white enter this season with a different non-conference resume than they did in 2022.
Prior to Ball State’s Saturday tilt with East Tennessee State, the Cardinals had dropped eight of their last ten matches. In spite of their slow start to the campaign, the red and white kicked off their final non-conference outing with their finest frame of the season.
Ball State fell to 2-8 on the season following a 3-1 loss to Western Kentucky Friday in the Cardinals' first match in the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic. They are set to face East Tennessee State at Noon Sept. 16.
Ball State snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over Austin Peay (2-5-1) on Senior Day. Ball State (2-4) looks to capitalize on its momentum in its upcoming road matchup with Butler (2-4-1) Thursday, Sept. 14.
Ball State leaves Dayton with a six-match losing streak and a 2-7 record, the Cardinals’ slowest start since head coach Kelli Miller Phillips’ debut campaign in 2016.
A Vanderbilt score with just under three minutes remaining put away the Cardinals the final leg of their grueling four-game road tilt. The Cardinals return to Muncie Sunday, Sept. 10 to take on Austin Peay at 1 p.m. in Ball State's senior day.
The Cardinals’ 2-1 record on the weekend equates to a second-place finish in the four-team Ball State Invitational.
Energized and excited for the fresh campaign, Ball State (1-0) made quick work of Gonzaga (0-2) in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-18) sweep of the visiting Zags on Friday in the opening round of the Ball State Invitational – a four-team round robin event also featuring Oklahoma and Purdue Fort Wayne.
