Ball State University
George Mason University
Men's Volleyball Hosts Lincoln Memorial Thursday In Home Opener
January 27, 2021 | Men's Volleyball
Ball State (1-1, 0-0Â MIVA) vs. Lincoln Memorial (1-3, 0-0 IVA)
Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena
Watch Game One (Jan. 28): ESPN 3 | Live StatsÂ
Watch Game Two (Jan. 29): ESPN3 | Live Stats
Game Notes: Ball State | Lincoln Memorial
Welcome Back To Worthen:
The Cardinals open up their home portion of their schedule Thursday when they host Lincoln Memorial for their first-ever meeting between the two schools'. Ball State's last match in Worthen Arena was on March 7, 2020 against Sacred Heart, resulting in a 3-0 win for the Cardinals. Ironically, BSU was supposed to play Lincoln Memorial that following weekend prior to the cancellation of the season due to COVID-19 global pandemic.Â
Ready For Reardon:
BSU vollyeball veteran outside attacker Blake Reardon had an impressive start to the 2021 season earning All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Offensive Player of the Week honors. Reardon was an offensive threat this weekend in both matches at George Mason, helping the Cardinals to a 3-1 victory over the 13th-ranked Patriots on Saturday. Reardon started the weekend off with a 24-kill performance over George Mason on Friday, nearly giving Ball State the win over the Patriots in five sets. He then mimicked that performance with 25 kills in Saturday's competition on just 46 attacks for a .391 hitting percentage. He also served two of Ball State's seven aces. Reardon came in clutch in some crucial moments during the match to seal the win for BSU. The graduate senior finished the weekend with 49 kills (5.44) for a .320 hitting percentage. He also added 12 digs and five total blocks.Â
Scouting Lincoln Memorial:
Lincoln Memorial opened the season with a 3-0 sweep over Lees-McRae on Jan. 16. After that, the Railsplitters fell 1-3 to Loyola (Jan. 22), 0-3 to No. 5 Lewis (Jan. 23) and 0-3 to McKendree (Jan. 24). Rightside hitter Justin Sharfenaker leads the Railsplitters offensively with 46 kills while teammate middle hitter/rightside attacker Dawson Walker tops Lincoln Memorial's defensive play averaging 19.0 blocks per game.
What is a Railsplitter:
The Railsplitter" is one of the nicknames of Abraham Lincoln and the one he used in the 1860 presidential election.
"On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected sixteenth president of the United States. He won as "The Railsplitter" candidate, a nickname acquired the previous May when Illinois Republicans convened at Decatur to endorse a favorite son for president.
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:
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 404Â career wins, owning an overall record of 404-231Â (.637).
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