Defending MAC Champions Too Much for 'Dons

Sunday, August 28

Muncie, Ind.

2:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

1-1

Ball State

2-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
IPFW	20	25	25	13	1
Ball State	25	27	19	25	3

Emily Spencer knocked down a game-high 21 kills in IPFW's loss to Ball State on Sunday

8/28/2011 3:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Muncie, IN - IPFW dropped the championship match of the Ball State Active Ankle Challenge to the defending Mid-American Conference champions in four sets on Sunday afternoon 3-1 (25-20, 27-25, 19-25, 25-13).

Emily Spencer continued her torrid start with the IPFW program by adding 21 kills on Sunday afternoon, giving the first-year player 37 kills through the first two matches of the season en route to being named to the All-Tournament Team. Jessie Manwaring joined Spencer on the All-Tournament team as she picked up a career-high kill total for the second straight match, adding a dozen against the Cardinals.

Muncie native Tessa McGill dug up 23 kill attempts for the Mastodons, a game-high, while Megan Wiler led the squad with a game- and career-high five total blocks, three solo.

The Mastodons fell behind early, as the Cardinals ran off a 9-0 run to turn a 3-2 IPFW lead into an 11-3 Cardinal advantage, as IPFW burned through both of its timeouts to attempt to end the run. Trailing 18-12 IPFW ran off a streak of its own, scoring five straight points to cut the deficit to one at 18-17; however, the Mastodons could never get over the early deficit, falling in the opener 25-20.

In the second set IPFW once again fell behind early, trailing 11-5 before chipping away at the deficit, and using a late 8-0 run to turn a 21-15 deficit into a 23-21 advantage, as the Cardinals used both of its timeouts during the streak. The Mastodons served for set point twice late in the match, but a pair of Kelsey Brandl kills gave the Cardinals the 27-25 set victory.

The third set saw the Mastodons jump ahead early 4-1 and 5-2 before the Cardinals fought back, eventually taking a two-point lead at 16-14. The IPFW offense and defense then hit full stride, out-scoring Ball State 11-3 over the rest of the frame, forcing the Cardinals into a sideout on each serve, while going on runs of 3-0, 4-0, and took the set win on an attack error by Brandl.

Spencer led off the fourth set with a kill; however, Ball State would score the next three points, and never trail again in the set. The hosts used runs of 6-0 and two others of 4-0 to pull away in the deciding set, winning the finale 25-13.

Megan Steenhuysen dished out 45 assists for IPFW, as Wiler added two service aces; however, it was service errors that proved to the IPFW's achilles heel, as they gave up 12 points on serving errors, compared to just two by Ball State.

Brandl had a team-high 14 kills en route to being named the Tournament MVP, as Mindy Marx added a dozen kills, also earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team, along with Catie Fredrich, who finished with 15 digs in the tournament win.

The Mastodons remain on the road for their next contest, a non-conference tilt with the Raiders of Wright State University, with first serve slated for 7:00 PM in Dayton, Ohio.

NOTES: IPFW falls to 3-10 all-time against Ball State, as the Cardinals have won the last four meetings...IPFW falls to 9-3 on August 28...Jessie Manwaring set a new career-high in kills for the second straight match, topping her ten from yesterday with a dozen against the Cardinals, while setting a new career-high with 28 attack attempts...Megan Wiler set career-highs in kills (5), attempts (12), assists (1), service aces (2), digs (5), solo blocks (3), total blocks (5), and attack points (11.0)...Emily Spencer's 21 kills are the eighth-most by an IPFW freshman in a four-set match in school history, while her 55 attempts are tied for ninth...Wiler's three solo blocks are tied for the third most by a sophomore in a four-set match in school history...Tessa McGill moves past Tami Isch (1997-00) into 15th in career digs with 953, and needs just three more to pass Julie Huber (1989-92)...Alli Hook moves into 48th in career kills with 354, passing Danielle Berlien (1992)...Jen Milligan moves into 50th in career digs with 376, passing Jami Brown (1989-89)...