Ball State University Athletics
Friday, January 31
University Park, PA
7:00 PM
Ball State University
4-3,0-0MIVA
3
at
0
#7 Penn State
4-3,0-0EIVA
1
2
3
F
Ball St.
30
25
25
3
Penn St.
28
19
20
0
Team Stats
BSU
PSU
Kills
36
39
Errors
12
25
Attempts
88
95
Hitting %
.273
.147
Points
48.5
48.5
Assists
32
34
Aces
4
3
Blocks
8.5
6.5
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
2
Blocks
4
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MA
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
OA
/ Men's Volleyball
L
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
OA
/ Men's Volleyball
Photo by: Kyle Crawford
Cardinals Leave Little Doubt in Upset of No. 7 Penn State
January 31, 2020 | Men's Volleyball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – On a three-match losing streak, the Ball State University men's volleyball team entered Friday's road contest at No. 7 Penn State hungry to turn things around. The Cardinals did just that as they swept the Nittany Lions, 3-0, in a dominant performance to secure the upset.
TEAM RECORDS
Ball State improved to 4-3 for the year as it saw its 3-0 slump disappear. The Nittany Lions likewise fell to 4-3.
IMPACT PERFORMANCE
Quinn Isaacson set the table for the Cardinals all night with 29 assists. He also went 2-for-2 on attack attempts to register two kills. The junior then polished his stat line with one ace, one block and five digs.
STAT LEADERS
Kills- Kaleb Jenness (11)
Assists- Isaacson (29)
Aces- Matt Szews (2)
Blocks- Szews & Felix Egharevba (4)
Digs- Nick LaVanchy (7)
SET-BY-SET SUMMARY
SET ONE (BSU 30, PSU 28)- The opening set was by far the most thrilling as it took 30 points for the Cardinals to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the match. After Penn State took an early 6-3 lead, BSU ripped off four-straight points to go up 7-6. The teams then went back and forth until PSU rallied for a 4-0 run of its own. The Nittany Lions appeared to have the set in hand with a 23-20 lead, but Ball state scored four straight to regain the lead and earn set point. Penn State fought that off but could never earn a set point of its own. Finally, up 29-28, Jake Romano entered the match to serve and put down a service ace to give the Cardinals the overtime victory.
SET TWO (BSU 25, PSU 19)- The second game of the match was all about runs. The Cardinals started with a 5-0 run to take a 13-9 advantage. Penn State quickly responded with four-consecutive points to even things up. Ball State then used runs of 3-0 and 5-0 to gain separation and secure a 2-0 lead on the night.
SET THREE (BSU 25, PSU 20)- Ball State's momentum carried over into the final set as the Cardinals gradually pulled away to secure the match. Runs of a 5-1 and 4-1 gave BSU enough breathing room to complete the sweep and secure the upset. Penn State found a little rhythm at the end of the set with a 4-1 stretch, but a Nittany Lion service error ended the rally and the match.
BALL STATE NOTES
-Friday's win marked Ball State's first victory over a ranked opponent since the Cardinals defeated No. 7 Lewis in 2019.
-Ball State has yet to play a four-set match this season. All the Cardinals' games have gone either three or five sets.
-Head coach Joel Walton inched closer to win number 400 for his career. The second-winningest coach among active Division I head coaches now owns 395 victories.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will travel to play Saint Francis Saturday night in the final match of a six-game road trip. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
For all the latest on Ball State men's volleyball, follow @BallStateMVB on social media and visit BallStateSports.com.
TEAM RECORDS
Ball State improved to 4-3 for the year as it saw its 3-0 slump disappear. The Nittany Lions likewise fell to 4-3.
IMPACT PERFORMANCE
Quinn Isaacson set the table for the Cardinals all night with 29 assists. He also went 2-for-2 on attack attempts to register two kills. The junior then polished his stat line with one ace, one block and five digs.
STAT LEADERS
Kills- Kaleb Jenness (11)
Assists- Isaacson (29)
Aces- Matt Szews (2)
Blocks- Szews & Felix Egharevba (4)
Digs- Nick LaVanchy (7)
SET-BY-SET SUMMARY
SET ONE (BSU 30, PSU 28)- The opening set was by far the most thrilling as it took 30 points for the Cardinals to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the match. After Penn State took an early 6-3 lead, BSU ripped off four-straight points to go up 7-6. The teams then went back and forth until PSU rallied for a 4-0 run of its own. The Nittany Lions appeared to have the set in hand with a 23-20 lead, but Ball state scored four straight to regain the lead and earn set point. Penn State fought that off but could never earn a set point of its own. Finally, up 29-28, Jake Romano entered the match to serve and put down a service ace to give the Cardinals the overtime victory.
SET TWO (BSU 25, PSU 19)- The second game of the match was all about runs. The Cardinals started with a 5-0 run to take a 13-9 advantage. Penn State quickly responded with four-consecutive points to even things up. Ball State then used runs of 3-0 and 5-0 to gain separation and secure a 2-0 lead on the night.
SET THREE (BSU 25, PSU 20)- Ball State's momentum carried over into the final set as the Cardinals gradually pulled away to secure the match. Runs of a 5-1 and 4-1 gave BSU enough breathing room to complete the sweep and secure the upset. Penn State found a little rhythm at the end of the set with a 4-1 stretch, but a Nittany Lion service error ended the rally and the match.
BALL STATE NOTES
-Friday's win marked Ball State's first victory over a ranked opponent since the Cardinals defeated No. 7 Lewis in 2019.
-Ball State has yet to play a four-set match this season. All the Cardinals' games have gone either three or five sets.
-Head coach Joel Walton inched closer to win number 400 for his career. The second-winningest coach among active Division I head coaches now owns 395 victories.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will travel to play Saint Francis Saturday night in the final match of a six-game road trip. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
For all the latest on Ball State men's volleyball, follow @BallStateMVB on social media and visit BallStateSports.com.
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