Chippewas Drop 5-Setter to Ball State

Saturday, October 29

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

7:00 PM

Central Michigan University

Ball State

10/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Oct. 30, 2016

Box Score

Cullen Makismowski, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The Central Michigan volleyball team squandered a 2-0 lead Saturday evening, dropping a five-set heartbreaker to Ball State in Mid-American Conference tilt inside McGuirk Arena.

The Chippewas fall to 9-15 overall with a 3-9 clip in league competition. The Cardinals are 11-15, 7-5.

"Well from start to finish I thought we had the best grabble and fight I've seen all year," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "We had 14 young women that were really binding together in a way that we asked them to and were really fighting and clawing for every point.

"It's a heartbreaker for us and a match we needed. I think everybody in that locker room knows we let an opportunity slip away tonight."

CMU got off to a blazing start in the first set, downing BSU, 25-15, while posting a season-high .520 hitting percentage. They kept it rolling in set two with a 25-21 win heading into the intermission.

The wheels started fall off in set three for the Chippewas as they fell, 25-21, while hitting just .103. The Cardinals took sets four and five, 25-21 and 15-10, respectively, to claim the match.

"I think moving forward from this, we obviously know that we we're capable of," said junior outside hitter Jordan Bueter. "Sets one and two were what we wanted tonight but we need to be able to keep it going. I think we are moving in a positive direction, but we need to improve on our consistency as well."

Bueter led the Chippewas with 22 kills and had a season-high five aces.

Sophomore outside hitter Laura Wilson and senior setter Kathia Sanchez added 13 kills apiece for CMU. Sanchez also led the team with a .312 hitting percentage and 29 assists, giving her a triple-double on the night.

Sophomore setter Kelli Combs added a career-high 22 assists in her first start of the season. Freshman libero Megan Kern led the CMU defense with 23 digs.

The Chippewas finished the match with a .250 hitting percentage compared to .270 by the Cardinals.

Sabrina Mangapora led the Ball State attack with 19 kills. Brooklyn Goodsel finished with 16.

The Chippewas are back in action on Friday, Nov.4, at Western Michigan (8-17, 3-9). On Saturday, Nov. 5, they go to MAC West-leading Northern Illinois (19-4, 11-0).