It was a polar opposite performance Saturday afternoon for the Ball State University women's volleyball team in its four-set win against SIU-Edwardsville.
Ball State won 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20 at Worthen Arena.
After a win in the first set, the Cardinals dropped a tough decision 20-25. Intermission did not benefit Ball State at all as the team did not make plays for a large chunk of the third set as well, coach Dave Boos said.
"There was a collective lack of performance there," Boos said. "There was a point when they just turned it on and that shows the maturity of the group."
Down 13-8, sophomore middle hitter Jennifer Boyd blasted a kill that helped wake up the offense. A few plays later sophomore setter Brittany McGinnis scored on a setter dump and the rally was on after teetering briefly.
"The rocky start effected all of us," senior Julie Breivogel said. "We just felt we all had nothing to lose and played like it. It was just like flipping a switch."
Down the stretch Breivogel accounted for six kills en route to leading the offense with 16 kills on the afternoon.
"Our goal is to protect our home court," Breivogel said. "We showed the experience and fight in our team."
The fourth set was also a tight affair until Boyd broke it open behind the service line. With a couple service aces Boyd pushed the Cougars to a match-point and Elaina Kakatolis finished the match with he fifth kill.
McGinnis tallied 46 assists while defensive specialists Christie Waters and Kaylee Schembra combined forces for 16 and 15 digs.
"Christie and Kaylee delivered for us again tonight. Kaylee was only in on a few rotations and still came away with 15 digs. She was all over the place for us," Boos said.
Ball State returns to the court at 7:30 p.m. against the University of Louisville for the Active Ankle Championship.
"We have to be prepared for their ability to make spectacular plays because they will make spectacular plays," Boos said. "We just have to win the points we can."
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