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Ball State Women's Tennis huddles together during a timeout against Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament May 5. The Cardinals would go on to lose the match. Ball State Athletics, photo courtesy

Ball State’s season comes to an end in the first round of NCAA tournament

By Caleb Zuver / May 5, 2023

After a season that saw an incredible amount of success with some chaos mixed in, Ball State women’s tennis  (22-4) played in their final match of the season Friday. Making their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the Cardinals were swept 4-0 by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (16-10). For the third consecutive year, Ball State failed to put up a point in any of the matches. But, junior Masha Polishchuk, who was on the previous tournament teams, said that this match felt and played out differently than the other two.

Senior infielder Haley Wynn prepares to bat in a game against Miami on April 26 at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Wynn had three RBI's. Katelyn Howell, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State defeats Akron, clinches MAC Tournament berth

By Zach Carter / April 30, 2023

In the middle of its season, Ball State softball was in a slump and sat in seventh place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). To make the tournament, you have to be in the top four. Cardinal fans might have wondered, can this team pull themselves out of their funk? This weekend, that question was answered. After bouncing back and defeating Akron in their final regular season series, the Cardinals clinched a tournament berth.

The Ball State Women's Tennis team poses with the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament Championship after defeating Toledo April 30. Ball State Athletics, photo courtesy
WOMEN'S TENNIS

Cardinals win third-consecutive MAC Championship

By Caleb Zuver / April 30, 2023

Ball State (22-3, 9-1 MAC) is headed to the NCAA tournament for the third-straight season after defeating the Toledo Rockets (20-4, 10-0 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship Sunday. "It’s incredible. I’ve never been in this position before,” freshman Annika Planinsek said after the match. “It feels surreal, I can’t even process it right now. It’s an incredible feeling.”

Fifth-year utility player Amaia Daniels cries with teammates after celebrating her senior day after a game against Buffalo April 16 at First Merchant Ballpark Complex. Daniels is tied for fifth all time in Ball State's Softball record book for career double plays turned. Brayden Goins, DN
GRAD ISSUE

With Ball State Softball, Amaia Daniel found her 'second family'

By Zach Carter / April 29, 2023

When you ask Amaia Daniel about Ball State softball, she has three words: “A second family.” She won’t boast about her achievements with the Cardinals, even though she ranks in the top 20 of 17 different statistical categories in program history and in the top 10 of eight of those categories. She won’t talk about her love of the game; she will speak of her love for her teammates, her “second family.”  “There's people on this team who have known me for that long, and there's people who I deeply trust with many, many things, and I respect them deeply,” she said. “I could honestly call them family, and I could treat them like family.”

Redshirt sophomore McKayla Timmons scores after a homerun in a game against Miami on April 26 at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Timmons scored two runs, one homerun, and had three RBI's. Katelyn Howell, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State falls to Miami, remains in fourth place in MAC

By Zach Carter / April 27, 2023

After sweeping back-to-back Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents, Ball State softball fell in a mid-week series against Miami. A big reason for that was the Redhawks' starting pitcher: Brianna Pratt. In the first game of the series, Miami’s ace was at her best. After she gave up five hits and had nine strikeouts, the Redhawks (29-17, 16-7 MAC) defeated the Cardinals 6-0. 

National Football League (NFL) Comissioner Roger Goodell prepares to speak at the 2009 NFL Draft April 25, 2009. Goodell. Goodell and the NFL announced officiating crews should place a larger emphasis on taunting in the 2021 season. Wikimedia Commons
NFL MOCK DRAFT

MASSEY: 2023 NFL Mock Draft

By Dane Massey / April 26, 2023

The NFL Draft is just beyond the horizon and the top college football prospects will see their dreams come true and take center stage in Kansas City, Missouri, for the 2023 NFL Draft. However, this year’s draft adds an exciting twist that could be the secret recipe for what could be one of the craziest NFL Drafts in recent memory.

WOMEN'S GOLF

Cardinals finish 7th at MAC Championship

By Elijah Poe / April 24, 2023

“It was really good, the golf course was in fantastic shape,” head coach Cameron Andry said. “Greens were fast, and they're just difficult. They've got a lot of slopes on them and so there are some hole locations that you just have to really be cautious with.”

Redshirt senior utility player Jazmyne Armendariz hits the ball in a game against Northern Illinois March 28 at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Armendariz had two hits and one run during the game. Katelyn Howell, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State sweeps Bowling Green, move to the 4th spot in Mid-American Conference

By Zach Carter / April 23, 2023

Three weeks ago, Ball State Softball sat in seventh place of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). On the field, they seemed lost and could not finish simple plays.  “It was just the type of softball that we were playing at that point in time,” the Cardinals head coach Lacy Schurr said. “... We weren't playing our kind of softball.” But since then, Ball State (24-21, 14-9 MAC) has swept two MAC opponents in consecutive series. This weekend, they did it on the road against Bowling Green. Schurr believes it was the little things that have hoisted the Cardinals’ success. 

The Ball State men's volleyball team huddles up after falling to Ohio State in MIVA Tournament Finals April 22 at Worthen Arena. Ball State lost to Ohio State 3-1. Amber Pietz, DN
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Cardinals fall short in bid for back-to-back MIVA Tournament Championships

By Daniel Kehn / April 23, 2023

If Felix Egharevba had to do it all over again, he would have done the same thing. Five years on from choosing to play volleyball at Ball State, the middle blocker would not have changed a single decision. “I left everything out [there],” he said after playing his final match in Worthen Arena. “I came in as a young freshman and I worked for this spot, I worked for this opportunity, I worked to be where I am right now.”

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