What a difference a month makes. A month ago the Ball State University women's volleyball team (10-13, 3-7) was starting the Mid-American Conference slate with confidence and holding very high expectations.It had no reason to even think that by Halloween it would be fifth in the MAC West, five games behind division leading Western Michigan University (16-9, 8-2), whom Ball State faces Friday night.
The Cardinals, who have been eliminated from contention for the Mid-American Conference tournament, will play their last match of the season against the RedHawks (9-7-1, 5-4-1 MAC), and coach Michael Lovett said a win is much-needed.
Along with the splitting of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams, former co-head coaches Bob Thomas and Laura Seibold-Caudill each took a team, with Seibold-Caudill taking the reigns of the women's team, a post she held from 1979-2004 when the teams were combined. During the time of the combined teams, Seibold-Caudill was in charge of the divers while Thomas coached the swimmers.
Left guard Michael Switzer and center Kreg Hunter made a simple promise to Ball State University's tailbacks before last Saturday's game at Eastern Michigan University.Switzer and Hunter, the veterans of the offensive line, told the running backs there would be holes against the Eagles. All they would have to do is run through them.
The Mid-American Conference released its preseason polls Wednesday, and the reigning MAC Tournament champion Ball State women's basketball team was predicted to finish second in the MAC West Division behind the University of Toledo. The Cardinals' men's team — co-MAC West champs last season — was predicted to finish in fourth place in the West this season.
Despite the academic/athletic pressures, the 2008-09 Ball State men's team was recently named a Golf Coaches Association of America All-Academic Team for achieving a team grade-point average of 3.0 or better. To be eligible for the honor, a university must submit the grade points earned and hours attempted for each player on its official squad list for the academic year.
Kelly Page knew his thumb was hurt, but wanted to stay in Ball State University's game against Bowling Green State University on Oct. 17.When coach Stan Parrish called for a running play, Page decided to tough it out."I was going to come out," Page said. "But I saw it was a run play, so I was like ‘I can stick this out.' I wasn't going to go in there and try and throw the ball and get another interception. I couldn't feel the ball to begin with."
Ball State University wanted to test themselves against elite competition during the fall season to see how they stack up. The results show the Cardinals still have a way to go."It was very disappointing," coach Bill Richards said. "It was a very poor performance."
Sophomore Devanny Kuhn marked a career high four goals in Saturday's matchup as she placed the team on her shoulders, leading to an impressive victory for Ball State University.After dropping their last four games, Ball State came out strong against Missouri State University, winning 4-2.
There were plenty of highlights over the course of the weekend for the Ball State University women's volleyball team (10-13, 3-7). Kelsey Brandl posted 34 kills, numerous blocks and five service aces. Kaylee Schembra had a remarkable diving, one-handed pancake dig to keep a play alive. Brandl also recorded two digs in the back row, contributing to a critical point in a set win. Charde' Phillips blasted a kill off the face of a defender.
YPSILANTI, Mich. - After running for 1,736 yards last season, expectations were sky high for Ball State University running back MiQuale Lewis this year.But Lewis struggled behind a young offensive line and has battled an injured ankle. The senior gained only 378 yards as the Cardinals started the year 0-7. The poor start led to questions about his running style and if he was the best fit for this year's offense.All of that went out the window at Eastern Michigan University as Lewis ran for 301 yards and set Ball State's single-game rushing record, while leading the Cardinals to a 29-27 win.
After a four-game road trip, the Ball State University soccer team returns home this weekend for its final home matches against Northern Illinois University and Western Michigan University.
Ball State University's men's tennis team will have to fight it out this weekend without one its top players.
The nine-game losing streak for Ball State University isn't the first time coach Stan Parrish has encountered a long losing streak. As coach of Kansas State University in the 1980s, Parrish went winless in his final 27 games as head coach.So what similarities do you see between the two long losing streaks, coach?
Hate is a strong word, but after how things went down last season, the mere mention of Bowling Green State University (8-15, 1-7) gets Ball State University (10-11, 3-5) women's volleyball players Brittany McGinnis and Elaina Kakatolis' blood boiling.
The quest for Ball State University's first win this year will have to continue without starting quarterback Kelly Page.Coach Stan Parrish said Tuesday that Page would miss the final five games of the season with a broken right thumb. The injury will require surgery that will keep the redshirt freshman out of action for two to six weeks.
Trailing by seven strokes, the men's golf team only had 18 holes to defeat then-leader University of Toledo. By shooting 12 strokes less than Toledo in the final round on Tuesday, Ball State won its first tournament of the Fall season.
Ball State University women's tennis coach Kathy Bull was fired Tuesday because of violations self-reported by the Athletics Department to the NCAA on Monday.
T.I.S. Bookstore general manager Pam Suminski said she has noticed a difference in her customers Ball State apparel preferences compared to last year."Last year when our customers came in, they were looking for shirts specifically relating to football," she said. "This year they're not necessarily as adamant about finding something with a helmet or football on it, they're just buying general Ball State logos."
