APRIL 9, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: RUDY YOVICH, SID
260-481-6646

Cards Survive Furious Rally

Fort Wayne, IN- Ball State University made it to the finish line, but barely, on Saturday night, tripping up the Mastodons 3-1, in MIVA play at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center.

Ball State survived a huge IPFW rally by the scores of 30-26, 30-20, 20-30, and 33-31.

The Cardinals (14-14, 9-5 MIVA) opened the match with two relatively easy wins, but IPFW came storming back to take the third behind the play of senior opposite Matt Zbyszewski and junior middle Serdar Sikca.

The fourth game was classic Ball State vs. IPFW. Neither team had more than a three point advantage, but in the end, after staving off three match points, IPFW would fall 33-31.

Zbyszewski led all scorers in the match with 21 kills and 24 points. The reigning MIVA player of the week also had 16 kills for his fourth consecutive double-double.

Sikca had nine kills and 5 block assists.

Ball State was led by a trio of Cardinals who hit for double-digits. Luis Castera dropped 20 kills, and Dave Carlson and Patrick Durbin each chipped in thirteen.

IPFW (10-14, 8-6 MIVA) had been in a third place tie with BSU, but now stand alone in 4th place in the conference. They host Rutgers-Newark (4/15) before finishing their last conference match of the season with 2nd place Ohio State (4/16). Both matches begin at 7pm at the Gates Center.

~Dons~