Ball State University
Quincy University
Men's Volleyball Returns To The Road This Weekend For Two MIVA Matches At Quincy
March 18, 2021 | Men's Volleyball
#15 Ball State (8-4, 5-3 MIVA) at Quincy (4-7, 1-7 MIVA)
Quincy, Ill. | Pepsi Arena | Series Record:Â Ball State has defeated Quincy in 52 of 57 all-time meetings and have won the last three-straight.
GAMES 13 & 14
Live Stats | Live VideoÂ
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Cardinals wrap up a five-match roadswing this weekend at Quincy starting Friday and then will close out the series agains the Hawks Saturday with both matches starting at 8 p.m. ET. Ball State is coming off of a 3-2 upset over MIVA rival Ohio State last Thursday night in Columbus. Junior outside attacker Kaleb Jenness led the BSU charge with a season best 21 kills off of 44 swings for a .318 hitting percentage. Six other Cardinals recorded kills on the night as well with graduate senior outside attacker Blake Reardon coming in second with 15. Senior setter Quinn Isaacson also had a strong performance at the net after dishing out a game high 54 assists while also leading his squad defensively with 10 digs and five aces.
SCOUTING QUINCY: The Hawks are coming off of a 3-1 loss to Lindenwood last Friday in their lone match. Quincy placed three players in double digit kills, Michael Ladner, Eddie Jakubauskas and Omari Wheeler each had 13 apiece. The Hawks fell behind two sets to none, won the third set, then dropped the fourth set 25-17, 25-19, 25-20, and 25-18.
JENNESS AND ISAACSON SWEEP MAC WEEKLY HONORS: Ball State junior outside hitter Kaleb Jenness (Mount Pleasant, S.C./Wando) and senior setter Quinn Isaacson (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) have been tabbed as the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) offensive and defensive players of the week. Jenness and Isaacson led the Cardinals in a pair of 3-0 sweeps over the weekend against Lindenwood to help Ball State extend its winning streak to seven and remain undefeated in MIVA action. Jenness opened the weekend with a 19-kill performance on 34 swings for a .441 hitting percentage in Saturday's win. On Sunday, he mimicked that performance with 18 kills on another 34 attempts for a .353 hitting percentage. He also helped defensively with six digs. For the week, Jenness totaled 37 kills on 68 attacks for a .397 hitting percentage. Isaacson also played a huge roll in the Cardinals' two victories. He led Ball State defensively with a season-best 13 digs on Saturday night against the Lions. He recorded six digs more on Sunday to total 19 for the weekend, an average of 3.17 per set. Isaacson also registered two block assists.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Cardinals return home next weekend (March 26-27) against Loyola Chicago for their last two home regular season matches of the year. Ball State will not only pay tribute to its seniors following the match on Saturday but will also say good-bye to longtime head coach Joel Walton. Both matches next weekend will begin at 7 p.m. ET in Worthen Arena.
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 410 career wins, owning an overall record of 410-234 (.637).
