Saturday, April 7
Muncie, IN
7:30 PM
Ball State University
17-11,10-4MIVA
3
vs
2
Ohio State University
20-5, 11-3MIVA
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ohio State
25
25
22
17
13
2
Ball State
16
22
25
25
15
3
Photo by: Kyle Crawford
Cardinals With a Thrilling Comeback to Upset No. 7 Ohio State
April 07, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
Ball State wins ninth straight home match with the victory over the Buckeyes.
MUNCIE, Ind.— It was an electric atmosphere inside Worthen Arena Saturday night as Ball State welcomed two-time defending national champions Ohio State. After losing the first two sets, the 12th ranked Cardinals pulled off an exciting comeback to take down the conference leaders, 3-2.
Leading the Cardinals on his senior night was middle attacker Matt Walsh. Walsh tallied 14 kills for a .367 hitting percentage along with nine blocks and one service ace. Ben Chinnici, Mitch Weiler and Parker Swartz each knocked down nine kills in the five set match. Chinnici also led the team in digs with 11. Matt Szews had one kills with two added by Jake Romano and one from Anthony Lebryk. Romano had 39 of the team's 43 assists. The Cardinals finished the evening with 50 kills, 59 digs, 13.5 total team blocks and three aces.
The Cardinals struggled in the opening set only knocking down nine kills for a .077 hitting percentage. Meanwhile Ohio State had 17 kills for an impressive .600 hitting percentage. Leading Ball State in the first set was Chinnici with three kills. Weiler and Walsh were each able to tally two kills apiece. The team had eight assists, six digs and three block assists in set number one.
Ball State came out hot in the second set scoring the first three points with two kills and a Buckeye attack error. The Cardinals went up 5-1 before forcing Ohio State to use their first timeout. However, the Buckeyes were able to rally back and tie the set at 7. The set saw 13 tied scores and seven lead changes before Ohio State came out victories, 25-22, on a Buckeye block assist. Walsh led the way in kills with four with three added by Swartz and Chinnici. Swartz led the team in digs with six. The team finished the set with 3.5 total team blocks and Romano 10 assists.
After struggling in the first two sets, the 10 minute intermission could not have come at better time for Ball State. The Cardinals came back out and kept the match alive with a 25-22 set three victory. Walsh had five of the team's 15 kills for a .625 hitting percentage. Szews added four kills while Swartz had two. Szews led the set in digs with 4.
Ball State struck again with a set four win, never trailing in the set. The Cardinals won, 25-17, on a Walsh service ace to force the deciding fifth set. Ball State had eight kills on six assists along with two aces, 12 digs and 5 total team blocks.
The fifth and final set was a battle down to the very last serve with nine tied scores and five lead changes. The Cardinals took the set and the match on a Walsh dagger of a kill, his only kill of the set. Weiler had a team-high three kills with one apiece added by Chinnici, Szews and Swartz.
The 12th ranked Ball State men's volleyball team is now 17-11 overall and 10-4 in the conference. The Cardinals will host McKendree next weekend (April 14) in round one of the MIVA quarterfinals.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
Leading the Cardinals on his senior night was middle attacker Matt Walsh. Walsh tallied 14 kills for a .367 hitting percentage along with nine blocks and one service ace. Ben Chinnici, Mitch Weiler and Parker Swartz each knocked down nine kills in the five set match. Chinnici also led the team in digs with 11. Matt Szews had one kills with two added by Jake Romano and one from Anthony Lebryk. Romano had 39 of the team's 43 assists. The Cardinals finished the evening with 50 kills, 59 digs, 13.5 total team blocks and three aces.
The Cardinals struggled in the opening set only knocking down nine kills for a .077 hitting percentage. Meanwhile Ohio State had 17 kills for an impressive .600 hitting percentage. Leading Ball State in the first set was Chinnici with three kills. Weiler and Walsh were each able to tally two kills apiece. The team had eight assists, six digs and three block assists in set number one.
Ball State came out hot in the second set scoring the first three points with two kills and a Buckeye attack error. The Cardinals went up 5-1 before forcing Ohio State to use their first timeout. However, the Buckeyes were able to rally back and tie the set at 7. The set saw 13 tied scores and seven lead changes before Ohio State came out victories, 25-22, on a Buckeye block assist. Walsh led the way in kills with four with three added by Swartz and Chinnici. Swartz led the team in digs with six. The team finished the set with 3.5 total team blocks and Romano 10 assists.
After struggling in the first two sets, the 10 minute intermission could not have come at better time for Ball State. The Cardinals came back out and kept the match alive with a 25-22 set three victory. Walsh had five of the team's 15 kills for a .625 hitting percentage. Szews added four kills while Swartz had two. Szews led the set in digs with 4.
Ball State struck again with a set four win, never trailing in the set. The Cardinals won, 25-17, on a Walsh service ace to force the deciding fifth set. Ball State had eight kills on six assists along with two aces, 12 digs and 5 total team blocks.
The fifth and final set was a battle down to the very last serve with nine tied scores and five lead changes. The Cardinals took the set and the match on a Walsh dagger of a kill, his only kill of the set. Weiler had a team-high three kills with one apiece added by Chinnici, Szews and Swartz.
The 12th ranked Ball State men's volleyball team is now 17-11 overall and 10-4 in the conference. The Cardinals will host McKendree next weekend (April 14) in round one of the MIVA quarterfinals.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.
Team Stats
OSU
BALL
Kills
64
50
Errors
24
24
Attempts
152
145
Hitting %
.263
.179
Points
77.0
66.5
Assists
62
43
Aces
2
3
Blocks
11.0
13.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
9
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
9
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OA
/ Men's Volleyball
MA
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's VolleyballMA
/ Men's Volleyball
OA
/ Men's VolleyballMA
/ Men's VolleyballOA
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