CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- Looking to end its non-conference portion of the 2010 schedule on a high-note, Appalachian State University volleyball could not hang on, as the Apps squandered a 2-0 match lead and suffered a 3-2 loss to Ball State, Saturday afternoon. The defeat marks the first time ASU lost back-to-back contests this season and drops the Black and Gold to 9-4 overall and improves Ball State to 10-2.

After the Apps won the first two sets, Ball State mustered a comeback and evened the match at two apiece.

An evenly played fifth set saw two lead changes before Ball State took control and Appalachian was unable to hang with a tough Cardinal squad.

Maggie Seeds and Meghann Forshey helped to tie the set at eight apiece, but the Cardinals went on a 7-1 run with errors plaguing Appalachian, to hand ASU a 15-9 fifth and 3-2 match defeat.

The Black and Gold started out the contest on fire, grabbing a 4-1 lead as Kelly Rhein and Meghann Forshey paced Appalachian's deadly offensive assault.

Rhein was stellar against Ball State, pouring in a match and season-best 17 kills, in addition to 12 digs and four block assists.

Pushing their advantage to five points, making the score 10-5 off of two Maggie Seeds kills, Appalachian never relinquished its cushion.

Despite the Cardinals coming back to tie play at 16 all, with Mindy Marx being quite active for BSU on both the offensive and defensive fronts, Forshey's stout performance enabled ASU to cling to a one point lead.

A one-point lead was all the Mountaineers needed, as final kills by Caroline Sedon and Seeds gave Appalachian the three-point first set win.

Carrying its momentum into second set action, ASU drilled Ball State, winning the set by 13 points.

Appalachian was dominant from the get-go, taking a 9-1 lead over its Mid-American conference competitor, thanks in part to Rhein and Forshey on the offensive front, and Alison Blasingame contributing at the net, recording five blocks.

Forshey was also impressive offensively, recording 11 kills on 34 total attacks.

Back-to-back kills by senior Lauren Swecker propelled ASU to a 10-point lead up 16-6, and with that Appalachian never looked back, as the squad cruised to the 25-12 second set victory.

Ball State was able to respond in third set action, grabbing an early 10-5 advantage over a sluggish Mountaineer team.

Three straight Appalachian points off of Swecker and Rhein kills and Rhein and Blasingame combining for a block, put Appalachian down just 15-11. However, Ball State then went on a streak that ASU could not recover from.

The Cardinals went on a 4-0 run, and despite strong efforts by Rhein and Seeds to get ASU back in the set, the Cardinals fended off the Mountaineers and earned the 25-17 third set win.

After falling behind 7-2 at the beginning of the fourth, offensive contributions by Seeds and Rhein, along with impressive Mountaineer blocking and errors by Ball State knotted action at 9 apiece.

The set was tied again at 11 all, and it seemed as though Ball State was primed to run away with it, as the Cardinals grabbed a 15-11 advantage off a Kelsey Brandl kill.

Not ready to give in quite yet, Rhein registered yet another kill and Meghann Forshey slammed home two as well to even action up once again at 16 all.

A continued back and forth affair, an ASU attack error and kills by Whitney Heeres and a final Cardinal service ace tied the match at two sets apiece as BSU took the 25-22 fourth set decision.

Heeres was one of two Cardinals to end the evening with double-digit kills, tallying 15.

Unfortunately for the Apps, the fifth set ended in Ball State's favor as ASU was dealt a 15-9 loss and its fourth loss of the 2010 season.

Along with Rhein and Forshey, Kasey Sauls was solid on the offensive front, totaling 30 assists and 13 digs, while Seeds poured in 14 kills.

With a week-break, Appalachian now turns its sights to conference action, as the Mountaineers take on Southern Conference South Division foe The Citadel, Saturday, September 25. Action is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the Holmes Center.

Tar Heel Volleyball Classic all-Tournament team

Courtney Johnston, North Carolina - MVP
Kaylie Gibson, North Carolina
Christine Vaughen, North Carolina
Whitney Heeres, Ball State
Alyssa Rio, Ball State
Maggie Seeds, Appalachian State
Ariel Pierre, Temple