MUNCIE, Ind. -The Green Bay volleyball team was close to going 3-0 on the weekend but fell 3-2 (22-25, 25-12, 23-25, 25-17, 15-17) to the Ball State Cardinals Saturday on the road at Worthen Arena. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Phoenix and moved the team to 5-4 on the year.

The Phoenix was led by season-high 20 kills from Cora Behnke. Alexandra Zakutney was also big for GB, registering 14 kills and 15 digs on the day. On the defensive end, Kayla Lass chipped in with 21 digs and Angie Gromos led the team with four blocks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Phoenix found themselves in an early deficit, losing the first set 25-22. Green Bay trailed by as many as six points as Ball State grabbed the advantage for good at 7-6 in a set that was tied up three times before the Cardinals took control.

SET 2 | Green Bay evened the match at 1-1 with a lopsided 25-12 second-set win. The Phoenix scored first and never trailed in the set. Green Bay opened up as much as a 13-point lead at 24-11 before closing out the set, collecting 15 kills while only committing two attack errors. The Phoenix hit .464 over the course of the set. The Green Bay offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza.

SET 3 | Ball State went ahead 2-1 in the match after taking down the Phoenix in set three. The Phoenix rallied from an 11-point hole at 17-6, but Ball State hung on to win the set 25-23.

SET 4 | GB then responded to secure the fourth set 25-17 to force a fifth set. Green Bay opened up as much as a ten point lead at 23-13 before finishing off the stanza, totaling 20 kills in the process.

SET 5 | GB was on the wrong side of a back-and-forth fifth set that saw the hosts win 17-15 to take the match.
 
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay had four players in double figures in kills, with Shannon Coughlin and Tiffany Paalman chipping in 18 and 15 respectively.
» Green Bay had five players in double figures in digs.
» Green Bay attackers combined to hit .302 in the match.
» Abby Gardner had a team-high three aces in the loss.
» Green Bay put together a strong attacking performance, notching 80 kills in the match.
» Green Bay attackers were helped by a match-high 64 assists from Calli Gentry.

ALL-TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCES
Zakutney and Paalman were both outstanding for the Phoenix all weekend, and were named to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the final match. Zakutney registered a double-double in all three matches, and averaged 16.3 kills and 12.3 digs per match. Paalman had her best match of the weekend against Ball Staet, finishing with 15 kills and four blocks against the Cardinals.

ELITE COMPANY
Zakutney is just nine kills away from 1,000 career kills and will look to become just the eighth to achieve the feat when the Phoenix travels to Marquette on Tuesday.
 
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