Wednesday, April 19
Columbus, Ohio
7 PM
Ball State University
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Ohio State
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Ball State
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Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals Fall in a Heartbreaker to Ohio State in MIVA Semifinals
April 19, 2017 | Men's Volleyball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ball State men's volleyball team went into Columbus looking to upset No. 2 Ohio State in the MIVA Semifinals. St. John Arena was rocking as the Cardinals and the defending national champions went down to the wire in five sets. Ball State left it all on the court, but fell in a heartbreaker, 3-2.
Freshman Blake Reardon led the team in kills with 14 and added eight digs and one block. Junior All-MIVA First Team selection Matt Walsh tallied 12 kills for an impressive .579 hitting percentage. He also added six total blocks and one service ace. MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year, Matt Szews, knocked down nine kills along with 11 digs and six block assists. All-MIVA Second Team honoree, Connor Gross, had 41 assists, 13 digs and two kills on the night. Defensively, sophomore Adam Wessel led the team with 16 digs.
The Buckeyes came out strong and took set one with a final score of 25-14. The Cardinals were held to only nine kills for a .080 hitting percentage. Reardon led the first set in kills with five while Swartz, Cartagena, Walsh and Szews each tallied one.
Ball State came out and scored the first two points of set two, but fell to Ohio State with a final score of 25-23. Reardon led the Cardinals in kills once again with four. Szews tallied two kills while Cartagena and Walsh each knocked down one. Gross led the set with six digs.
In a see-saw set three that saw 12 tied scores and seven lead changes, the Cardinals avoided the sweep with a set three victory. On a block assist from Walsh and Weiler, Ball State took the set 25-23. Mike Scannell led the team with five kills, three of which were on consecutive points. Szews added four kills and a team high four digs in set three.
Ball State was on fire in set four and took the set 25-23. Walsh led the way with six kills while Reardon added three. Scannell had one kill in set four, which was the set winning point.
Set five was a nail biter. Ball State came out with a bang and took a quick 3-0 lead. On back-to-back kills from Szews and Reardon, the Cardinals took a 7-2 lead and forced an Ohio State timeout. The Buckeyes quickly clawed their way back tying the final set 8-8. After a Ball State timeout, the battle continued. After a 13-13 tie, a service error and an Ohio State block assist sealed Ball State's fate. The Buckeyes took the final set, 15-13, ending the Cardinals' season.
The Ball State men's volleyball team ends the season with a 19-10 record and 9-7 in the MIVA regular season.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
Freshman Blake Reardon led the team in kills with 14 and added eight digs and one block. Junior All-MIVA First Team selection Matt Walsh tallied 12 kills for an impressive .579 hitting percentage. He also added six total blocks and one service ace. MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year, Matt Szews, knocked down nine kills along with 11 digs and six block assists. All-MIVA Second Team honoree, Connor Gross, had 41 assists, 13 digs and two kills on the night. Defensively, sophomore Adam Wessel led the team with 16 digs.
The Buckeyes came out strong and took set one with a final score of 25-14. The Cardinals were held to only nine kills for a .080 hitting percentage. Reardon led the first set in kills with five while Swartz, Cartagena, Walsh and Szews each tallied one.
Ball State came out and scored the first two points of set two, but fell to Ohio State with a final score of 25-23. Reardon led the Cardinals in kills once again with four. Szews tallied two kills while Cartagena and Walsh each knocked down one. Gross led the set with six digs.
In a see-saw set three that saw 12 tied scores and seven lead changes, the Cardinals avoided the sweep with a set three victory. On a block assist from Walsh and Weiler, Ball State took the set 25-23. Mike Scannell led the team with five kills, three of which were on consecutive points. Szews added four kills and a team high four digs in set three.
Ball State was on fire in set four and took the set 25-23. Walsh led the way with six kills while Reardon added three. Scannell had one kill in set four, which was the set winning point.
Set five was a nail biter. Ball State came out with a bang and took a quick 3-0 lead. On back-to-back kills from Szews and Reardon, the Cardinals took a 7-2 lead and forced an Ohio State timeout. The Buckeyes quickly clawed their way back tying the final set 8-8. After a Ball State timeout, the battle continued. After a 13-13 tie, a service error and an Ohio State block assist sealed Ball State's fate. The Buckeyes took the final set, 15-13, ending the Cardinals' season.
The Ball State men's volleyball team ends the season with a 19-10 record and 9-7 in the MIVA regular season.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
Team Stats
BALL
OSU
Kills
54
56
Errors
29
19
Attempts
142
147
Hitting %
.176
.252
Points
70.0
75.0
Assists
49
49
Aces
5
5
Blocks
11.0
14.0
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
6
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ Men's VolleyballOA
/ Men's VolleyballOA
/ Men's VolleyballOA
/ Men's VolleyballMA
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