7-22
Ball State
15-16
Volleyball Season Comes To An End In MAC Tournament
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
ATHENS, OH – Despite sending the match into four sets tonight, the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York volleyball team fell to Ball State, 3-1, in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. With the loss, UB's season ends at 7-22 and 6-10 in conference play.
Ball State took the contest 25-19, 22-25, 25-14, 25-13 as the Cardinals outhit UB, .189 to .060. UB held a 9-8 lead in the opening set before four straight points put Ball State ahead. The Bulls were able to pull within 20-17, but Ball State ended the set on a 5-2 run.
UB tied the match up in the second set as it overcame a 15-11 deficit. Four straight points tied the set up and the Bulls eventually went ahead 20-17 following a Cardinal attack error. Ball State pulled within two at 24-22, but a kill from senior Akeila Lain ended the set in UB's favor.
Out of the break though it was all Ball State as the Cardinals built early leads in both the third and fourth sets, winning them 25-14 and 25-13, respectively.
"It was a disappointing end to the season especially with the way we played in the second set, but Ball State deserves credit for the way they came back," said head coach Blair Brown Lipsitz. "It was a memorable year for me being my first and I can't thank the seniors enough for not only what they gave me this past year, but during their entire careers at UB."
Senior Megan Lipski ended her four-year career with a team-high 11 kills, finishing her career with 841 kills. Freshman Valisha Watkins added nine kills and Lain and Cassie Shado each had six. Freshman Madison Clark finished with 29 assists and a career-high 13 digs.
Defensively, sophomore Niki Bozinoski had 20 digs, while freshman Abby Beecher added 15. In addition to Clark's 13, Watkins added 11. UB had 9.0 total blocks led by four from freshman Megan Wernette.
The loss tonight ends the careers of Lipski, Lain and setter Marissa Prinzbach, whose season was cut short due to injury this year.
