Men's Volleyball Opens 2021 Season At George Mason Friday
January 21, 2021 | Men's Volleyball
Ball State (0-0, 0-0 MIVA) vs. George Mason (0-0, 0-0 NJIT)
Fairfax, Va. | Recreation Athletic Complex
Watch: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Game Notes: Ball State | George Mason
Setting The Scene:
WELCOME BACK: Friday's match at George Mason marks the first time since March 7, 2020 the Cardinals have competed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Ball State closed out the abbreviated 2020 season on high note, posting a 3-0 sweep over Sacred Heart at home in Worthen Arena. Â
FIRST SERVE: Friday's contest against George Mason marks the 74th meeting all-time the Cardinals and the Patriots, with BSU leading the all-time series record, 44-29. Unfortunately, the Cardinals dropped their last meeting to George Mason in five sets, 3-2, on Jan. 23, 2020.
PRESEASON ALL-MIVA: Junior outside attacker Kaleb Jenness (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) was named to the Preseason All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association team, while the Cardinals were picked to finish third in the preseason poll. Jenness finished the abbreviated 2020 season with a team high 246 kills to earn a spot on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention Team.
THE END OF AN ERA:Â One of the winningest coaches in NCAA men's volleyball history will lead Ball State's program for one more season. Head coach Joel Walton announced he will retire following the completion of the 2021 season. A two-time Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Coach of the Year, Walton enters his 23rd and final season at the helm of the Cardinals ranked fourth among active NCAA men's volleyball head coaches (Divisions I, II or III) with 403 career wins, owning an overall record of 403-230 (.637).
LEAGUE HIGH:Â For the second straight year, 18 Ball State men's volleyball players qualified for the 2020 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Academic All-Conference team:Â Sammy Adkisson, Nate Amos, Bryce Behrendt, Ben Chinnici, Ryan Dorgan, Felix Egharevba, Colin Ensalaco, David Flores, Will Hippe, Quinn Isaacson, Kalbe Jenness, Nick LaVanchy, Nick Martinski, Wil McPhillips, Jake Romano, Courtland Scharenborg, Brandon Shepherd and Matt Szews.
SCHEDULE NEWS: After opening the season with back-to-back non-conference weekends, Ball State welcomes Purdue Fort Wayne Feb. 5-6 for its MIVA opening weekend. The Cardinals also have home league weekends against Lindenwood (Feb. 19-20) and Loyola (March 26-27).BSU will go on the road for league weekends at Lewis (Feb. 12-13), Quincy (March 19-20) and McKendree (April 2-3). Ohio State is the only opponent Ball State is scheduled to face both home and away. The Cardinals host the Buckeyes for a single match Feb. 27 and visit Columbus, Ohio, for a single match March 13. The MIVA tournament quarterfinals are set April 17 with the semifinals slated for April 21 and the championship match on April 24. The NCAA Play-in match is scheduled for April 30, and the remainder of NCAA Tournament will be hosted by Ohio State in Columbus, May 4-8.Â
