Wednesday, April 19
Columbus, Ohio
7 PM
Ball State University
at
Ohio State
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Men’s Volleyball Looks to Take Down Ohio State in MIVA Semifinals
April 18, 2017 | Men's Volleyball
11 Ball State at 2 Ohio State
Wednesday, Apr. 19 (7 p.m.)
Columbus, Ohio
Live Stats: http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mvolley.html?event=1514370&school=osu&sport=mvolley&camefrom=&startschool=&
Live Video: http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/collegesportslive/?media=552147
MUNCIE, Ind. – The 11th ranked Ball State Cardinals head to Columbus, Ohio as they look to upset No. 2 Ohio State Wednesday night in the 2017 MIVA Semifinals. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
Scouting Ohio State:
The Buckeyes enter the match with a 28-2 overall and an undefeated 16-0 mark in conference play. Ohio State suffered their first loss of the season to UC Irvine, 3-0, in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes then fell to Penn State at the end of March, 3-2.
Ohio State's Nicolas Szerszen ranks in the top of the MIVA in multiple categories. Szerszen is first in the conference in kills (391) and in service aces per set (.64). He is also second in kills per set with 3.76 and fourth in hitting percentage at .396. Miles Johnson is also on the MIVA leader boards. Johnson is first in kills per set (3.93), second in total kills (389) and second in service aces per set (.45).
Cardinals to watch:
Junior Matt Walsh was just named to the All-MIVA First Team and is currently first nationally in hitting percentage at .442. Walsh sits second in the MIVA in blocks per set with 1.19.
Outside attacker Matt Szews was named MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year along with All-MIVA First Team and All-Freshman Team honors. As a true freshman, Szews is third in the conference in kills per set (3.45), third in kills (348) and third in service aces per set (.37).
Senior Connor Gross is second in the MIVA in assists per set with 10.40 and was just named as part of the All-MIVA Second Team. Gross is sixth in school history (during rally scoring era) with 1,280 career assists. During the 2017 season, Gross has knocked down 53 kills along with 71 blocks, 184 digs and four service aces.
Freshman Blake Reardon has been making a huge impact on the team in the second half of the season. In the last three matches, including the two victories over Loyola, Reardon has tallied 28 kills and averaged 2.55 kills per set. He also recorded 21 digs, four service aces and five total blocks in the last three matches.
Cardinal Facts:
As a team, Ball State is first in the conference in digs (974) and in digs per set (9.37). The Cardinals also sit in second in kills per set in the MIVA with 12.35, second in assists per set with 11.49 and second in blocks per set with 2.48.
Nationally, Ball State is second in team attacks per set with 28.37. The Cardinals are also third in digs per set and fifth in blocks per set.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
Wednesday, Apr. 19 (7 p.m.)
Columbus, Ohio
Live Stats: http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mvolley.html?event=1514370&school=osu&sport=mvolley&camefrom=&startschool=&
Live Video: http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/collegesportslive/?media=552147
MUNCIE, Ind. – The 11th ranked Ball State Cardinals head to Columbus, Ohio as they look to upset No. 2 Ohio State Wednesday night in the 2017 MIVA Semifinals. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
Scouting Ohio State:
The Buckeyes enter the match with a 28-2 overall and an undefeated 16-0 mark in conference play. Ohio State suffered their first loss of the season to UC Irvine, 3-0, in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes then fell to Penn State at the end of March, 3-2.
Ohio State's Nicolas Szerszen ranks in the top of the MIVA in multiple categories. Szerszen is first in the conference in kills (391) and in service aces per set (.64). He is also second in kills per set with 3.76 and fourth in hitting percentage at .396. Miles Johnson is also on the MIVA leader boards. Johnson is first in kills per set (3.93), second in total kills (389) and second in service aces per set (.45).
Cardinals to watch:
Junior Matt Walsh was just named to the All-MIVA First Team and is currently first nationally in hitting percentage at .442. Walsh sits second in the MIVA in blocks per set with 1.19.
Outside attacker Matt Szews was named MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year along with All-MIVA First Team and All-Freshman Team honors. As a true freshman, Szews is third in the conference in kills per set (3.45), third in kills (348) and third in service aces per set (.37).
Senior Connor Gross is second in the MIVA in assists per set with 10.40 and was just named as part of the All-MIVA Second Team. Gross is sixth in school history (during rally scoring era) with 1,280 career assists. During the 2017 season, Gross has knocked down 53 kills along with 71 blocks, 184 digs and four service aces.
Freshman Blake Reardon has been making a huge impact on the team in the second half of the season. In the last three matches, including the two victories over Loyola, Reardon has tallied 28 kills and averaged 2.55 kills per set. He also recorded 21 digs, four service aces and five total blocks in the last three matches.
Cardinal Facts:
As a team, Ball State is first in the conference in digs (974) and in digs per set (9.37). The Cardinals also sit in second in kills per set in the MIVA with 12.35, second in assists per set with 11.49 and second in blocks per set with 2.48.
Nationally, Ball State is second in team attacks per set with 28.37. The Cardinals are also third in digs per set and fifth in blocks per set.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
Players Mentioned
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