QUINCY, Ill. - The Quincy University men's volleyball team dropped a MIVA match to the nationally ranked Ball State Cardinals.  #14 Ball State defeated the Hawks 26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 25-18 Friday night (Feb. 23).  

The Cardinals led the Hawks 9-6 in the early portion of the opening set.  QU took four of the next five points to tie the set at 10-10.  Ball State took a 15-12 lead over the Hawks and looked to gain an early advantage.  

QU went on a 6-0 run to take an 18-15 lead late in the opening set.  Ball State regained the lead at 23-21.  Facing set point at 24-23, Shane McAdams tied the set at 24-24.  The Cardinals scored the next two points to take the first set 26-24.  

Ball State held the early advantage at 7-3 in the second set.  The Hawks battled back to tie the set at 11-11.  Ball State led 17-14 before the Hawks cut the lead to 18-17.  The Cardinals were able to take the second set 25-20.  

The Hawks needed to win the third set in order to extend the match to a fourth set.  QU took a 17-9 lead and looked to be in firm control of the third set.  A 7-0 run by the Cardinals cut the Hawks lead to 17-16.  Despite the Cardinals best efforts, QU held on for a 25-23 set win.  

QU gave a valiant effort but was unable to take the match to a fifth set, falling to the Cardinals 25-18 in the fourth set.  

Anthony Winter led the Hawks with 21 kills and 11 digs.  

QU falls to 8-8, 0-5 in MIVA play.  

The Hawks are back in action tomorrow against IPFW at 7 p.m. in Pepsi Arena.