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Senior middle attack Kevin Owens jumps to hit the ball to the McKendree side during the first set Jan. 24 at Worthen Arena. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Ball State knocks off Princeton is five sets

By David Polaski / February 8, 2014

Ball State came back to knock off Princeton University Saturday night after dropping the first two sets and winning in five (21-25), (19-25), (22-20), (26-24), (15-4). Cardinals outside attacker Marcin Niemczewski set a new career-high in kills with 25, adding seven digs. The offense struggled as a whole during the first two sets, hitting .000 partway through the second set. With the third set tied at 16, Ball State went on a 4-0 run spurred by kills on behalf of Niemczewski and Matt Sutherland.

Junior libero David Ryan Vander Meer bumps the ball in the third set against McKendree Jan. 24 at Worthen Arena. Vander Meer recorded a career-high 22 digs against IPFW on Friday. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Defense showcased in Ball State win over IPFW

By David Polaski / February 2, 2014

When Ball State played IPFW Friday, the players knew they’d need to have their best defensive effort of the season. But with Shane Witmer’s solo block atthe end of the match, the Cardinals accomplished that goal. “The blockers played a great game, and when attackers are forced to go around that, you’ve got a great picture of the ball,” Ball State libero David Ryan Vander Meer said.

Sophomore outside attacker Marcin Niemczewski gets ready to hit the ball to McKendree in the first set Jan. 24 at Worthen Arena. Niemczewski had four digs. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Ball State sweeps McKendree

By David Polaski / January 25, 2014

In the days leading up to Ball State’s match against McKendree, head coach Joel Walton said that McKendree “wouldn’t be the toughest team we face this season.” Nobody would have expected them to be—not a program that was just formed and was playing its first volleyball match in history. Ball State swept McKendree (25-13), (25-15), (25-13) in a match where some of Ball State’s backups saw more time than the starters. Connor Gross and Alex Pia played throughout the third set, showing flashes of both talent and youth, much like their opponents across the net did. “Alex played well, he had some good swings, hit an overpass pretty well,” Walton said, grinning.

Sophomore outside attacker Marcin Niemczewski serves the ball during the match against Sacred Heart. The team is trying to recover after the two top offensive players last season graduated. DN PHOTO EMMA ROGERS
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Offensive inconsistency hurts team

By David Polaski / January 20, 2014

Losing the top two offensive threats for any team can instantly create problems. It’s no different for the Ball State men’s volleyball team after graduating Greg Herceg and Jamion Hartley, the two top offensive players last season. Head coach Joel Walton’s team is experiencing an adjustment period on offense, unsure of which players should get the most opportunities to attack. The starting lineup constantly changes, and Walton said he expects it to continue to change until the offense starts producing better. “We’re trying to find a group that can produce offense, play good defense [and] work together well on the court,” Walton said.

Players from the men's volleyball team celebrate after winning a point during the match against Sacred Heart. Ball State won the Jan. 11 match in three sets. DN PHOTO EMMA ROGERS
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Breaking down a serve

By David Polaski / January 16, 2014

A volleyball cut through the air, barely rotating as it tipped the top of the net and fell backward. Senior Larry Wrather frowned and shook his head, unhappy with the result. “One more,” he said quietly to his teammate next to him toward the end of Tuesday morning’s practice.

Freshman outside attacker Brendan Surane jumps up to block the ball from UC Irvine player Zach La Cavera at Worthen Arena on Jan. 4. Surane had six kills and six errors in his career debut. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Freshman starts career against defending champions

By David Polaski / January 6, 2014

For one freshman outside attacker, his first match Saturday night was against likely the most difficult opponent of the season. Ball State’s Brendan Surane made his collegiate debut under the bright lights of Worthen Arena, for a college that has won over 20 conference championships, facing two-time defending national champion UC Irvine — ranked first in the country.

Senior Kevin Owens and sophomore Jack Lesure compete in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association tournament last season. DN FILE PHOTO JORDAN HUFFER
SPORTS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Ball State opens season against defending national champion

By David Polaski / January 3, 2014

Replacing two starting outside attackers will be hard enough for Ball State head coach Joel Walton and his men’s volleyball team when they open the season Saturday. He said true freshman Brenden Surane would start on the right side at outside attacker, hoping to help replace the graduated Greg Herceg and Jamion Hartley. There will be no time for Surane to adjust, not when the first match is against defending national champion UC Irvine. “We don’t have to be perfect,” Walton said.

Sophomore outside hitter Alex Fuelling sends an attack over the net during the game against Buffalo on Oct. 5 in Worthen Arena. Fuelling took 14 kills out of an attempted 27 leading to a Ball State sweep of 3-0. DN PHOTO COREY OHLENKAMP
SPORTS

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Ball State’s keys all season fall flat in loss

By David Polaski / November 25, 2013

Strategies that Ball State women’s volleyball head coach Steve Shondell preached all season seemed to vanish at the Mid-American Conference Tournament. During the 31-game regular season, his team relied on accurate passing, a lights-out defense and swarming energy to vault them to a 24-7 record. It may have been injuries, Western Michigan’s game plan or the grind of playing 116 sets throughout the regular season that played a factor in Ball State’s first-round loss. Whichever it was, there was something missing from Ball State on Friday night. “We could have had more intensity tonight,” sophomore outside hitter Alex Fuelling said.

SPORTS

Ball State falls to Western Michigan in MAC tournament

By David Polaski / November 22, 2013

As she laid out, body fully outstretched toward the net, setter Jacqui Seidel gave the crucial point every ounce of energy she had in her body. The ball came crashing down to the left of her arm. So the Ball State women’s volleyball team’s season as well. Ball State lost in four sets (25-17, 24-26, 20-25, 21-25) in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament for the second season. The loss was the team’s first to Western Michigan as Ball State knocked off the team twice earlier in the season. “Tonight, they were making the plays that we were making last week,” Ball State head coach Steve Shondell said about Western Michigan.

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