Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
14-3
Grand Canyon
9-8
Big Blocks Keep Men?s Volleyball Undefeated In Conference Play
March 05, 2016 | Men's Volleyball
PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a five set battle Friday evening, the No. 8 Ball State (14-3, 8-0 MIVA) men's volleyball team extended its win streak to 11 in a row when it faced Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association opponent Grand Canyon (9-9, 2-6 MIVA). In the 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13) final, the Cardinals crashed the net with 15.0 total team blocks and held a consistent .264 total team attack percentage to remain undefeated in conference competition.
MIVA Defensive Player of the Week sophomore Matt Walsh matched junior Alex Pia and tallied seven block assists to lead the Cardinals. Junior Mike Scannell got in on the action by jumping for six block assists, while senior Marcin Niemczewski marked the lone solo Ball State block of the night and two block assists. The Cardinals racked up a significant 15.0 total blocks, although Grand Canyon was just as competitive defensively by earning 10.0 blocks on their side of the net as well.
While the Cardinals were consistent with its attack by holding between a match-opening and high of .333 and a second set .200 hitting percentage, the 'Lopes dramatically dropped from its first set team attack percentage of .625 to hitting .000 in the second set. While Grand Canyon rebounded with a .333 percentage in the third set, the Ball State blocking game continued to hold the 'Lopes to a .033 and .000 to close out the match.
Helping to boost the Cardinals attack percentage was sophomore Mitch Weiler, who notched a team-high of 15 kills on the night. Scannell and Niemczewski made their presence known by downing 11 kills each, while freshman libero Adam Wessel also got in on the action by earning two kills with a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Wessel also earned 16 digs over the course of the five sets.
The match was far from even in just the attack percentage and blocking categories, as the pair of conference foes fought through 19 tie scores and six lead changes. In the second set 25-18 Ball State win, the Cardinals did not sacrifice any lead changes, and kept ahead with no tie scores. Similarly, Ball State held the lead outright in the 25-19 fourth set win, and went on to hold off the 'Lopes in the fifth set despite sacrificing two lead changes and five tie scores.
Ultimately, Ball State was victorious in the narrow match by holding the advantage in kills (56-52), attack percentage (.264-.193), total team blocks (15.0-10.0), digs (49-36) and were just shy in aces by earning four on the night, compared to Grand Canyon's five. Ball State also held to just 24 attacking errors, while Grand Canyon committed 25.
Ball State will face the 'Lopes again tomorrow evening, before hitting the road to take on No. 4 UCLA on Monday evening in Los Angeles, Calif.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State men's volleyball action, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB on Twitter and Instagram.
