Friday, February 5
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Ball State University
4-1,1-0MIVA
3
vs
1
Purdue Fort Wayne
0-1,0-1MIVA
1
2
3
4
F
Purdue Fort Wayne
22
25
19
20
1
Ball St.
25
23
25
25
3
Men’s Volleyball Opens MIVA Play With 3-1 Win Over In-State Rival PFW
February 05, 2021 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - It comes to no surprise that tonight's Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) opener between the two in-state rivals, the Cardinals and the Mastodons, would be a close one.
After the match, Ball State head men's volleyball coach Joel Walton explained how there is a ton of history between the two programs and getting a win over your rival in the conference opener is a good start for Ball State.
It was like déjà vu throughout the entire match tonight. You knew a fifth set could be in the mix after the first three frames were competitive but fortunately for the Cardinals (4-1, 1-0 MIVA) they were able to take the fourth frame 25-20 to seal the 3-1 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne (0-1, 0-1 MIVA) Friday night in Worthen Arena.
With eight ties and four lead changes in the fourth stanza, it looked as if the Mastodons could possibly tie the match 2-2 and send it to an extra period. The score was last tied at 11-11 before a kill from preseason All-MIVA selection Kaleb Jenness would give the Cardinals back the lead for good.
After that, Ball State clicked on both sides of the net leaning on the likes of veterans Jenness, Blake Reardon, Will Hippe and Felix Egharevba to secure the win over PFW.
Jenness led the Cardinals offensively with 15 kills and he also had 10 digs along with three service aces. Walton explained that he had to pull Jenness out of the match early on but put him back in a few plays later. He spoke to how Jenness changed up his game to hit a variety of shots including getting a kill on a tip where Walton said that Kaleb typically doesn't do that. Jenness still has to learn on managing different moments but all in all Walton thought Jenness did a good job tonight.
Ball State took control early in the opening set, leading by as many as six on numerous occasions. A kill from Reardon late in the first would make the score (17-11) over Purdue Fort Wayne.
PFW then rallied back to make the score 23-22. BSU then answered with back-to-back kills from Bryce Behrendt and Wil McPhilips which helped Ball State claim the first set over Purdue Fort Wayne, 25-22.
In the second set, it was as if the two teams flip flopped. The Mastodons were the team to jump ahead early. Ball State continued playing a game of catch up eventually making a late comeback to come within reach, 24-23, but the Mastodons' Pelegrin Vargas found an opening spot on the court for the kill to even the match at 1-1.
The third set was a bit closer than the previous two frames, with the score knotted 19-19, Ball State would dominate the remainder of the third period, scoring the next six points to win it by a score of 25-19.
During the Cardinals scoring spree, BSU got help offensively from Jenness and Hippe along with some defensive blocks to give the Cardinals the 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth.
The Ball State men's volleyball team will conclude its two-match MIVA series against Purdue Fort Wayne in Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET in Worthen Arena.
For the most up-to-date news not the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB on Instagram and Twitter.
After the match, Ball State head men's volleyball coach Joel Walton explained how there is a ton of history between the two programs and getting a win over your rival in the conference opener is a good start for Ball State.
It was like déjà vu throughout the entire match tonight. You knew a fifth set could be in the mix after the first three frames were competitive but fortunately for the Cardinals (4-1, 1-0 MIVA) they were able to take the fourth frame 25-20 to seal the 3-1 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne (0-1, 0-1 MIVA) Friday night in Worthen Arena.
With eight ties and four lead changes in the fourth stanza, it looked as if the Mastodons could possibly tie the match 2-2 and send it to an extra period. The score was last tied at 11-11 before a kill from preseason All-MIVA selection Kaleb Jenness would give the Cardinals back the lead for good.
After that, Ball State clicked on both sides of the net leaning on the likes of veterans Jenness, Blake Reardon, Will Hippe and Felix Egharevba to secure the win over PFW.
Jenness led the Cardinals offensively with 15 kills and he also had 10 digs along with three service aces. Walton explained that he had to pull Jenness out of the match early on but put him back in a few plays later. He spoke to how Jenness changed up his game to hit a variety of shots including getting a kill on a tip where Walton said that Kaleb typically doesn't do that. Jenness still has to learn on managing different moments but all in all Walton thought Jenness did a good job tonight.
Ball State took control early in the opening set, leading by as many as six on numerous occasions. A kill from Reardon late in the first would make the score (17-11) over Purdue Fort Wayne.
PFW then rallied back to make the score 23-22. BSU then answered with back-to-back kills from Bryce Behrendt and Wil McPhilips which helped Ball State claim the first set over Purdue Fort Wayne, 25-22.
In the second set, it was as if the two teams flip flopped. The Mastodons were the team to jump ahead early. Ball State continued playing a game of catch up eventually making a late comeback to come within reach, 24-23, but the Mastodons' Pelegrin Vargas found an opening spot on the court for the kill to even the match at 1-1.
The third set was a bit closer than the previous two frames, with the score knotted 19-19, Ball State would dominate the remainder of the third period, scoring the next six points to win it by a score of 25-19.
During the Cardinals scoring spree, BSU got help offensively from Jenness and Hippe along with some defensive blocks to give the Cardinals the 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth.
The Ball State men's volleyball team will conclude its two-match MIVA series against Purdue Fort Wayne in Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET in Worthen Arena.
For the most up-to-date news not the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB on Instagram and Twitter.
Team Stats
Pur-FW
BSU
Kills
43
55
Errors
17
22
Attempts
110
103
Hitting %
.236
.320
Points
60
70.5
Assists
41
50
Aces
6
6
Blocks
11
9.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
3
Blocks
4
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OA
/ Men's Volleyball
MA
/ Men's Volleyball
MA
/ Men's Volleyball
OA
/ Men's Volleyball
OA
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