September 16, 20161st2nd3rdFinal
Valparaiso1713180
Ohio State2525253
VALPOTeam StatsOSU
.077Hitting Pct..344
19Kills50
13Errors17
78Total Attacks96
19Assists50
3Aces4
27Digs42
7.0Blocks6.0
VALPOLeadersOSU
GRABOSKI - 6
KillsSandbothe - 14
ZALESKI - 16
AssistsHughes - 39
BRUINSMA - 1
GRABOSKI - 1
LONGORIA - 1
AcesHughes - 2
ZALESKI - 12
DigsLeon - 12
BRUINSMA - 3
BlocksSmeathers - 5
BoxscorePlay-by-Play
September 16, 20161st2nd3rd4thFinal
Valparaiso23925171
Ball State252521253
VALPOTeam StatsBSU
.101Hitting Pct..250
42Kills58
26Errors21
159Total Attacks148
39Assists54
2Aces3
64Digs81
8.0Blocks11.0
VALPOLeadersBSU
GRABOSKI - 15
KillsMANGAPORA - 20
ZALESKI - 25
AssistsSEAMAN - 47
CARLSON - 1
LONGORIA - 1
AcesSEAMAN - 3
KETCHAM - 21
DigsAVILA - 32
GRABOSKI - 3
BlocksHOLLAND - 5
BoxscorePlay-by-Play
Volleyball Drops Pair at Ball State
Friday, September 16, 2016
Volleyball Drops Pair at Ball State
Allison Ketcham paced the Crusaders in digs versus Ball State.

The Valparaiso University volleyball team opened play at its final pre-league tournament of the season Friday with a pair of matches at the Ball State Active Ankle Challenge. The Crusaders fell 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-18) to #19 Ohio State to open the tournament and then dropped a four-set decision (25-23, 25-9, 21-25, 25-17) to the host Cardinals Friday night.

How It Happened

  • Reigning First Team All-American Taylor Sandbothe led Ohio State as the Crusaders fell in three sets to the nationally-ranked Buckeyes, finishing with 14 kills on .458 hitting. The latest Valpo led in any of the three sets came in the opener, as a three-point spurt gave the Crusaders a 12-11 advantage, but OSU scored eight of the next nine points to take control.
  • In the nightcap against the Cardinals, Valpo looked in control of the first set, leading 20-15, before BSU ended the set on a 10-3 run to claim the opener. The Cardinals then hit at a .406 clip in the second set as they pulled ahead 2-0.
  • The Crusaders led nearly start to finish in the third set, but Ball State threatened late, closing to within 19-17. Valpo would score four of the next five points, including three kills by junior Taylor Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio/Upper Sandusky), to give itself a cushion, and another kill from Graboski forced a fourth set.
  • Ball State responded by scoring the first six points of the fourth set, and the Crusaders were unable to get any closer than four points the rest of the way as the Cardinals closed out the win.

Inside the Matches

  • Sophomore Lizzie Zaleski (Oak Lawn, Ill./Marist) registered a pair of double-doubles, finishing with 16 assists and 12 digs versus Ohio State and 25 assists to go along with 11 digs against Ball State.
  • Graboski matched her career high for kills with 15 kills in the nightcap against Ball State, reaching the mark for the third time.
  • Junior Allison Ketcham (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian) tallied a team-best 21 digs versus the Cardinals, breaking the 20-dig mark for the first time this season and the 13th time in her career.

Next Up

The Crusaders (6-7) look to close out action from Ball State on a winning note on Saturday as they face off with UNC Greensboro at 3 p.m. CT. Live stats will be available via ValpoAthletics.com.