MUNCIE, IND. – Playing its third straight nationally-ranked opponent and highest of the season, the Maryville men's volleyball team fell at No. 7 Ball State 25-13, 25-23, 25-16. Makai Scott paced the Saints with 17 kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Luke Kraft finished with nine kills, while Zac Clark posted six digs. Ethan Beyreis-Heim distributed 28 assists on the evening.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints scored the opening point and still were up 4-3 after Makai Scott's kill. The Cardinals scored four straight to take the lead. Kevin Doran put down a kill to end the BSU run and pull the Saints to within 7-5. A point by Scott made it 8-6 before Ball State scored six-in-a-row. Luke Kraft finished a play to get the Saints back on the board. A BSU miscue and kill by Doran pulled the Saints to within 19-10 but never got any closer.
 
In set two, Ball State scored four of the first five points until Scott drilled in a kill. Cameron Lee put down a pass to pull the Saints to within 7-5. The Cardinals scored three of the next four points to build a cushion. Maryville was trailing 19-13 but rallied to cut into the BSU lead and scored four of the next five points. Scott had back-to-back kills, and following a Cardinal error, he had a service ace to chop the gap down to 20-17. Kraft had consecutive kills to pull the Saints to within 22-20. BSU scored one but the Saints put up a triple block by Doran, Kraft and David Fleischer and a kill by Kraft trimmed the deficit to just 23-22. Maryville saved one set point on a Scott kill but the Cardinals prevailed on the next for a 25-23 win.
 
Lee and Doran put up a block early in the third set for a 5-4 lead. The Cardinals scored four straight before Kraft ended the run with a termination. Two straight errors by BSU pulled the Saints back to 13-11. Kraft finished another pass before the Cardinals edged out to an 18-13 advantage. Scott sandwiched kills around a point from Ball State to trim the deficit to 19-15. However, the Cardinals scored five straight and held on for the victory.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills: Makai Scott - 17
Hitting Percentage: Makai Scott - .500
Assists: Ethan Beyreis-Heim - 28
Service Aces: Makai Scott - 1
Digs: Zac Clark - 6
Blocks: Kevin Doran - 4
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 0-3
No. 7 Ball State: 5-3
 
What's Next?
The Saints host their first home match of the season as Brescia University comes to Moloney Arena Monday, Jan. 27, in a 6 p.m. first serve.  Read Full Article