Muncie, Ind.— The University of Toledo women's volleyball team was swept by Ball State on Thursday evening in Muncie. The loss drops the Rockets' record to 7-9 (2-3 MAC).
Toledo was outhit in the match, .374 to .197. Sophomores
Chloee Kleespies and
Emma Swope led the team with 10 kills apiece, while
Zoe Birnbrich tallied eight and hit .412.
Carly Townsend contributed 32 assists and
Maurissa Leonard recorded a match-high 23 digs. Leonard now has 2,010 career digs, becoming the 15th player in MAC history to reach that benchmark.
Next up for the Rockets is a Saturday matchup hosted by the Akron Zips. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
Set 1 (25-17, BSU)
Toledo led early, 4-3, but that would be the last time it would hold an advantage over Ball State in the first set. The Cardinals used a 6-1 run to take a commanding 16-10 lead, and used a 7-2 stretch to close out the first set with a 25-17 win. UT hit .179 compared to BSU's .381.
Set 2 (25-18, BSU)
The Rockets may have been a point closer than they were in the first set, but the second frame was the most lopsided on the evening, seeing as UT did not share the lead at any point. Ball State took a 7-1 lead to kick things off and set the tone for the second set. Toledo did pull within three, 18-15, after a little 4-0 run built off the strength of Swope's play. But a three-point deficit would be as close as the Rockets would come, and they would fall behind 2-0 in the match after dropping the second game, 25-18.
Set 3 (25-19, BSU)
The final set of the night was also the most offensively proficient set of the night for both teams. Toledo hit .265, but Ball State hit .432 to cruise to a three-set victory. The Cardinals started off the set with three straight points, but the Rockets were able to grind their way back into it and tie the frame at 12-12, with the tying point coming on a service ace from
Elise Wilcox. Toledo led as late as 16-15, but a 9-2 Ball State run put the lid on any possible Rocket comeback attempt. UT would drop the final set, 25-19, and fall to BSU in straight sets.
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