BUIES CREEK – The Fighting Camels suffered their first straight-set loss of the season in the home opener, falling to Ball State 3-0.
Campbell drops to 2-4 on the season, with three losses to teams receiving votes for the AVCA Top 25.
Ball State rolled in the opening frame, hitting .469 with 17 kills and only two errors, while Campbell's offense was quiet and hit .062.
Campbell kept things closer in the second set, ultimately falling 25-22. The set was for the taking tied at 19-19, but the Cardinals used a late spurt to take it by three. Campbell's offense was better in the second at .239, but it wasn't enough with the Cardinals hitting .333.
The Cardinals put things away with a 25-20 final set, and led by as many as 11 in the frame.
Campbell was led by
Hailey Heytvelt's nine kills, and eight from
Victoria Tupy. The Camels were looking to make up production with
Emma McCartney's absence, the Camels' top hitter in each of the first five matches this season.
Lauren Wheeler notched her first double-double of the season with 16 assists and 10 digs to lead Campbell in both categories.
Ball State was paced by Tiffany Snook's 17 kills. The Cardinals finished the night hitting .298 as a team, the best mark against CU this season.
Campbell is back tomorrow for a twin-bill, facing Stetson at 10:30 a.m., and Furman at 5 p.m.
