For the second consecutive match, the Ball State University men's volleyball team rallied from a two-game deficit to win.
The Cardinals defeated Lewis University 17-30, 27-30, 30-28, 30-25, 15-13 on Friday, six days after winning a five-game match against St. Francis University.
"We thought we could just step on the court and play and Lewis was going to be the team that they have been in the past and make a whole lot of mistakes," coach Joel Walton said. "Once we changed our mentality to one that knew we were going to have to work for every point, we were a lot more aggressive. That's what turned the tide and that's what pushed us over the top."
In the first game Ball State (3-5, 2-1 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) had a match-low .111 attack percentage and trailed by as much as 15 points. However, the Cardinals finished the match with a .300 attack percentage, including a .500 attack percentage in the fifth game.
Walton said one reason for the Cardinals' turnaround against Lewis (3-3, 0-1 MIVA) resulted from the performance of Ball State's bench.
Coming off the bench midway through the second game, outside attacker Eric Schulte finished the match with nine digs and was one of four Cardinals to have at least 10 kills. Also, Schulte had the match-winning kill with the score 14-13 in the fifth game.
Schulte said he provided additional energy for his team Friday.
"In practice I'm kind of the vocal, ease the mood and get the energy going and so that's what I kind of try to do on the court," Schulte said. "In the fifth game my voice was gone, but it's what I try to do. Pick it up vocally and with play."
Ball State's next match will be against the New Jersey Institute of Technology 7:30 p.m. at Worthen Arena.
For more coverage on this weekend's matches, read Monday's issue of the Ball State Daily News.
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