MUNCIE, Ind. – In their second match of the day, Gonzaga's volleyball team scored first in the second and third sets but would eventually fall in three to Ball State (17-25, 19-25, 18-25) on the first day of the Ball State Tournament at Worthen Arena.
 
THE ACTION
First Set – Ball State, 25-17

• Gonzaga (0-2) and Ball State (1-0) traded blows early in the first set, with neither team taking more than a two point advantage.
• The Zags led 7-5 before a 7-0 Cardinal run had the tournament host up 12-7 and forced a GU timeout.
• Ball State would build a ten point advantage, leading 23-13. Kills by Jody Smith and Autumn Larson sparked a run to force a Ball State timeout, but a quick recovery led to a 25-17 victory in Set One for BSU.

Second Set – Ball State, 25-19

• Ball State jumped out to a quick 13-6 lead in Set Two, with six different Cardinals recording kills.
• After trailing by seven, the Zags brought the deficit to three with the help of Smith and Larson again, but a final push from Ball State brought the second set to a close, winning 25-19.
• Larson and Smith each recorded three kills apiece as GU hit at a .267 clip in the second set.

Third Set – Ball State, 25-18

• Back-to-back kills by Russell put the Zags up 2-0 early in the third set. Ball State would respond with three straight kills by Lauren Gilliland, putting the Cardinals up 7-4.
• Gonzaga would stay within striking distance throughout the final set, but Ball State would not be caught, taking the final set, 25-18.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• Larson led the Zags with ten kills, her first double-digit performance of her career.
• Smith hit for a .333 clip, recording a career high eight kills on 18 attempts with just two errors.

UP NEXT
The Zags wrap up the Ball State Tournament tomorrow morning against Purdue Fort Wayne at 8 a.m. PST.
Live Video: BallStateSports.com (Single Camera Feed)
Live Stats: www.GoZags.com
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Volleyball Falls to Oklahoma in Season Opener
The Gonzaga volleyball team lost their opening match of the 2023 season against Oklahoma, 3-0 on Friday morning. Despite mounting pressure by the Zags in the final two sets, a pair of runs by the Sooners led to a win in straight sets.
 
THE ACTION
First Set – Oklahoma, 25-11

• Oklahoma (1-0) started off with a quick 6-1 run, but Gonzaga (0-1) responded with a 5-3 run of their own and closed that gap to just three.
• The Sooners answered with a 10-0 stretch that saw them up 19-6, taking control of Set One.
• Despite back-and-forth scoring, OU would not be caught and took the first set, 25-11.

Second Set – Oklahoma, 25-18

• Gonzaga came out firing in Set Two, as Autumn Larson and Fallon Thompson recorded back to back kills right out of the gate. Zoe Thiros and Jody Smith chipped in kills of their own, and GU opened an 8-4 advantaged, forcing an Oklahoma timeout.
• Out of the timeout, the Sooners regained the lead 11-10, and an eventual 13-4 run put them in front 21-14.
• Once again, the Zags battled back-and-forth, but the seven point lead would hold as Oklahoma won the second set, 25-18.

Third Set – Oklahoma, 25-20

• GU opened the third set with a quick 4-0 lead with the help of a pair of aces from Nia Damuni. Oklahoma fought right back and knotted the set at 9-9. The score would remain within two points through the break as the Bulldogs and Sooners traded blows.
• Trailing by just one, 20-19, Gonzaga looked to get on the board and send the match to a fourth set. However, a 5-1 run for Oklahoma sealed the set and 3-0 win.