Purdue Fort Wayne
Ball State
No. 10 IPFW Brooms No. 15 Ball State
4/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
April 7, 2007
Fort Wayne, IN - Junior opposites Jason Yhost and Brock Ullrich powered No. 10 IPFW past No. 15 Ball State, 3-0 on Saturday night, before a crowd of 2,163 at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center.
The Mastodons swept the Cardinals by the scores of 30-24, 30-25, and 30-20.
After being upset by the Redbirds back on February 23, IPFW let it be known from the get-go that there would be no upset tonight.
Junior opposite Jason Yhost teed it up and rattled off the first four points of the match on serve. He was helped out by a pair of kills by junior opposite Brock Ullrich, forcing a Ball State time-out.
The 'Dons were never seriously challenged in the opening frame with Yhost and Ullrich combining for 12 kills, while junior outside hitter C.J. Macias put down six.
Ball State (14-11, 6-4 MIVA) remained close in the second set on the charity of five 'Don service errors, but a Yhost kill at 15-all would be the last time the Cardinals were within hailing distance.
In the third, IPFW went on a 20-10 run to wrap up the match.
Yhost led the Mastodons with 15 kills (.333). He also served up a pair of aces and had seven digs.
Ullrich put down 14 balls (.464). He also had two service aces and dug up six balls.
Macias chipped in 10 kills for IPFW, who with the win, takes over sole possession of second place in the MIVA with a record of 8-3 (17-7 overall).
Senior outside hitter Nick Meyer was the only Cardinal to hit in double-figures with 10 kills.
Ball State out-blocked IPFW 5.0 to 4.0, but it was a tremendous team defensive effort that allowed the 'Dons to set up their offense. IPFW registered 33 digs in the match, as opposed to 27 for Ball State. The 'Dons also out-hit the Cards .320 to .126.
The Mastodons return to action on Friday the 13th, hosting Rutgers-Newark in a non-conference match, before finishing off the regular season with their final MIVA match, on Saturday at Quincy.
Note: IPFW paid tribute to their five graduating seniors before tonight's match. Jason Hemphill, Jerrod Quillen, Colin Lundeen, Vitor Oliveira, and Josh Collins will be leaving the program at the conclusion of the season.
~Dons~
