Steve Shondell has barely had time to sit down to evaluate his team, get to know each player's strengths and weaknesses, address assistant coaching vacancies and speak to recruits. Yet he knows the immediate direction he wants to take the team — the NCAA Tournament.
Ball State (17-19) scored six runs in the first two innings, and Brad Piatt (1-3) gave the team his best start of the season for the win. Ball State will take its latest success on the road to Butler University today, but more importantly, to Central Michigan University this weekend. The Chippewas lead the Cardinals by a game in the Mid-American Conference.
Much of the focus during Spring Practice was on Ball State University's ongoing quarterback competition. Meanwhile, the defense toiled in relative obscurity, getting used to changes in the coaching staff and playing without some mainstays of the past.
Ball State University is in ninth place out of 12 teams after two rounds in the Crooked Stick Invitational hosted by Indiana University in Carmel.
Julie Breivogel will join the Purdue staff and coach during summer camps.
Still looking for its first win of the year against an in-state, Division I rival, Ball State University will have two more chances this week starting with Indiana State University on Tuesday.
Junior Georgina Thomson's knee injury during the Akron match caused the Cardinals to adjust against the Zips and Buffalo, as Ball State lost both matches on the road.
The crucial point Sunday came in the fifth inning when Ball State was nursing a 3-1 lead. Back-to-back singles by Lisa Rozanski and Alicia Barkley were followed by a double steal that put runners on second and third with nobody out. However, Kent State ace Kylie Reynolds induced two strikeouts and a popped-up bunt to end the threat.
Ball State (16-19, 9-3) won the first two games of its series against the University at Buffalo (16-17, 4-8) before falling 11-7 in 11 innings Sunday. The Cardinals have won their first four MAC series for the first time since 2005.
Illinois State University won the team meet, finishing with 144 points. Host Louisville fell one point shy from being at the top of the leaderboard, followed by Central Michigan University (132 points) and Ohio State University (81 points). Ball State finished last in the five-team meet, but it was able to post several top-10 finishes, coming away with 46 points.
Buffalo (12-6, 5-0 MAC) got things rolling in its favor early by claiming the doubles point, winning at No. 1 and 2 doubles. Ball State won three of the six singles spots, but it wasn't enough.
Ball State hopes for a strong performance after taking a step back in last week's Missouri Intercollegiate. The Cardinals placed eighth as a team out of 15 schools and didn't have an individual crack the top 15. Freshman Tony Lazzara was Ball State's top performer, tying for 20th place.
Ball State was soundly swept by No. 11 Ohio State University Friday night in Columbus, Ohio, as the Buckeyes clinched the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association with the victory. It took the Cardinals 24 hours to regroup. Ball State swept No. 13 Loyola University 3-0 (30-25, 30-28, 30-28) Saturday night in Worthen Arena, claiming its second win over a ranked team this season.
Down quickly to the University at Buffalo, Ball State University scored the last six runs of the game for a 6-5 victory.
Ball State held its Spring Game on Saturday, but it was more of a scrimmage without scores or stats.
With only four matches left in the season before the MAC Tournament, Ball State believes it still has time to make some noise in the conference. Facing two tough conference opponents this weekend, the Cardinals' best chance at proving themselves might be right now.
With numerous complaints over nagging injuries, coach Randy Heisler plans to send less than 20 runners and throwers to the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational at the University of Louisville.
If the numbers are any indication, ace Elizabeth Milian and the Cardinals' pitching staff should continue to roll against the Bulls (13-21, 3-3 MAC). Buffalo ranks 11th out of 12 MAC teams in batting with a .222 team average and also rank 11th in runs (80) while ranking 10th in hits (180).
A sweep would be very beneficial to Ball State's MAC West title hopes after it fell out of first place last weekend, despite winning twice at Bowling Green State University. The University of Toledo and Central Michigan University are tied for first, a game ahead of Ball State.
The No. 11 Buckeyes (18-7, 10-1 MIVA) are the defending MIVA champions and have swept the Cardinals in the conference championship match the last two seasons. The two schools have already played in Muncie this season with the Buckeyes getting the sweep.
