MUNCIE, Ind. – The IU Indy volleyball team fell to host Ball State in four sets on Saturday evening at Worthen Arena. The Jaguars took the second set but couldn't slow the Cardinals' attack, falling 3-1 (14-25, 25-23, 18-25, 14-25). The loss moves IU Indy to 5-8 on the season.
Ball State (9-2) jumped ahead with a 25-14 win in the opening set. IU Indy held an early 5-3 advantage before the Cardinals worked their way in front. Ball State closed the frame on an 8-1 run to take the early match lead.
The Jaguars responded in the second set, hitting .300 with 13 kills to even the match. The two teams traded points throughout a frame that featured 11 ties. With the score even at 18-18, IU Indy used kills from Ninah Miranda and Chloe Macias to build a 21-19 advantage. Ball State battled back to tie the set at 23, but Lila Britt put the Jaguars at set point with a kill before a Cardinal attack error sealed the 25-23 victory.
Ball State regained control in the third set, opening a 12-5 advantage. IU Indy cut the deficit to three at 16-13 behind kills from Britt and Jillian Tippmann, but the Cardinals answered and pulled away for a 25-18 win.
The Cardinals carried the momentum into the fourth, using an early 5-0 run to take a 6-1 lead. The Jaguars continued to battle, but Ball State maintained its advantage throughout the frame and closed out the match with a 25-14 set victory.
Bailey Sinish paced the Jaguar offense with 12 kills, while Tippmann added 10. Miranda finished with eight kills and Britt totaled six as IU Indy recorded 44 kills in the match. Laura Roeder led the back row with 13 digs while also adding two kills and a service ace. Sinish, Roeder and Grace Purichia each recorded an ace. The Jaguars finished with 53 digs and four total blocks.
IU Indy will return to Indianapolis to host Robert Morris on Sept. 25.
