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Post by Bearkitten on Feb 8, 2023 12:27:18 GMT -6
Ball State will open up defense of their 2022 conference championship when the Cardinals meet long time rival Lewis University Thursday at 7:00 in Worthen Arena. The Flyers return 5 starters from a season ago and will be a tough opponent for any MIVA team to beat. BSU is still searching for its best combination after losing 4 starters from a year ago. The Cardinals are coming off a huge win over 3-time national champion BYU and may have found the missing link in 6’6” sophomore opposite Dyer Ball. Ball is the son of 4-time USA Olympian Lloy Ball and is big physical presence on the right pin. Let’s get ready to rumble!
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Post by villagepub on Feb 8, 2023 12:44:52 GMT -6
Ball State will open up defense of their 2022 conference championship when the Cardinals meet long time rival Lewis University Thursday at 7:00 in Worthen Arena. The Flyers return 5 starters from a season ago and will be a tough opponent for any MIVA team to beat. BSU is still searching for its best combination after losing 4 starters from a year ago. The Cardinals are coming off a huge win over 3-time national champion BYU and may have found the missing link in 6’6” sophomore opposite Dyer Ball. Ball is the son of 4-time USA Olympian Lloy Ball and is big physical presence on the right pin. Let’s get ready to rumble! He looked good in the 2nd match vs. BYU
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Post by coastalcard on Feb 9, 2023 20:39:54 GMT -6
Wow. What a match! Lewis deserved that win.
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Post by cardsbballfan on Feb 9, 2023 21:29:01 GMT -6
Any word on Jenness? Injury?? He sat out a lot...
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Post by cardsbballfan on Feb 9, 2023 21:33:50 GMT -6
Wow. What a match! Lewis deserved that win. A few things to work on, for sure. Our serving once again cost us some key points. And we seem slow on defense, trying to get to the gaps. We can't just rely on offense to win matches.
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Post by loganberrie on Feb 10, 2023 1:46:18 GMT -6
Any word on Jenness? Injury?? He sat out a lot... Jenness was injured in Hawaii and that’s why he has struggled ever since. Don’t be surprised if he is out indefinitely based on his performances against Lewis. Phillipa and Behrent will need to step up if Jenness can’t play.
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Post by coastalcard on Feb 11, 2023 19:06:52 GMT -6
Nice recovery to split the weekend 3-1 against McKendree Ball had a great match and Jenness returned and had a good match.
We might not have the record of last year but Cards are loaded with talent this year.
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Post by lmills72 on Feb 12, 2023 17:15:37 GMT -6
They can be really exciting to watch but talent'a not worth much if you can't capitalize on it. Ask Eastern Michigan's men's basketball team.
Don't know if its injuries or if the coaching staff just hasn't found the right combinations but a lot of change since last year and even in-season this year. Not clicking on all fires yet and conference play has started. Key to being able to come close to last year's achievements will be winning MIVA regular season.
I'm sure they don't want to play at Loyola or OSU come tournament time.
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Post by loganberrie on Feb 13, 2023 10:05:18 GMT -6
The injury to Kaleb Jenness shoulder has been the difference. He is not able to generate the velocity on his attacking and he has to serve a jump float serve now. You’re talking about a 1st team All-American playing at 50% and there’s your most significant difference. He has no choice except to play thru it and hopefully get healing as the season progresses. The other aspect that must be improved is backcourt defense. Letting soft shots hit the floor against Lewis cost BSU the match. I’m sure this will be addressed and improved in practice. BSU is a work in progress but it’s a 4 month season so there is time to find the best lineup combination and work the kinks out. Dyer Ball is coming into his own and will take some of the pressure off Mr T and Jenness. Cards are solid in the middle with Egharevba and Buckholz. Setting position is wide open now between Flores and Wiersinski.
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Post by lmills72 on Feb 13, 2023 17:17:31 GMT -6
The injury to Kaleb Jenness shoulder has been the difference. He is not able to generate the velocity on his attacking and he has to serve a jump float serve now. You’re talking about a 1st team All-American playing at 50% and there’s your most significant difference. He has no choice except to play thru it and hopefully get healing as the season progresses. The other aspect that must be improved is backcourt defense. Letting soft shots hit the floor against Lewis cost BSU the match. I’m sure this will be addressed and improved in practice. BSU is a work in progress but it’s a 4 month season so there is time to find the best lineup combination and work the kinks out. Dyer Ball is coming into his own and will take some of the pressure off Mr T and Jenness. Cards are solid in the middle with Egharevba and Buckholz. Setting position is wide open now between Flores and Wiersinski. I know Jenness is the All-American, but I'm not sure I wouldn't be more concerned about the setting position being "wide open" at this point in the season.
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Post by Bearkitten on Feb 13, 2023 19:05:41 GMT -6
The injury to Kaleb Jenness shoulder has been the difference. He is not able to generate the velocity on his attacking and he has to serve a jump float serve now. You’re talking about a 1st team All-American playing at 50% and there’s your most significant difference. He has no choice except to play thru it and hopefully get healing as the season progresses. The other aspect that must be improved is backcourt defense. Letting soft shots hit the floor against Lewis cost BSU the match. I’m sure this will be addressed and improved in practice. BSU is a work in progress but it’s a 4 month season so there is time to find the best lineup combination and work the kinks out. Dyer Ball is coming into his own and will take some of the pressure off Mr T and Jenness. Cards are solid in the middle with Egharevba and Buckholz. Setting position is wide open now between Flores and Wiersinski. I know Jenness is the All-American, but I'm not sure I wouldn't be more concerned about the setting position being "wide open" at this point in the season.
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Post by Bearkitten on Feb 13, 2023 19:26:01 GMT -6
I know Jenness is the All-American, but I'm not sure I wouldn't be more concerned about the setting position being "wide open" at this point in the season. I believe it’s wide open in a good way. BSU has two excellent setters with different strengths. Depending on the size and physicality of the opponents outside attackers will determine which setter to use. Flores is 6’1” and Wiersinski is 6’6.” Flores is a senior and Wiersinski is a sophomore. Both are excellent setters. It’s also still very early in the season and both are gaining much needed game experience. It will be interesting to see who has the job in late April when the conference tournament rolls around.
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