Ball State University Athletics
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Men’s Volleyball Announces 2023 Schedule
November 18, 2022 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State men's volleyball head coach Donan Cruz has announced the team's 26-match spring schedule which is highlighted by 14 contests inside Worthen Arena.
"We are looking forward to the 2023 season around the corner," Cruz said. "Our goal with scheduling was to challenge the team with tough non-conference competition and I believe we achieved that objective. Our guys will have a handful of opportunities to learn and grow as the season progresses while seeing some of the nation's best teams along the way. We expect the MIVA will be a tough road and we will keep our focus on improving so we can be at our best when the back half of the season rolls around. We are excited to kick off the season against the defending champs and see our fans back in Worthen in January."
The Cardinals are looking to build off a historic 2022 season which saw Cruz, in his first year at the helm, lead Ball State to a 23-4 overall record and the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship.
The 2022 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season and tournament champions, BSU was also ranked third in the final NVA/AVCA Men's Division I-II Coaches Poll: the highest ranking in program history.
Ironically, the 2023 campaign will start against a familiar opponent in two-time defending national champion Hawai'i which earned a hard-fought 3-2 (28-26, 19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-11) victory over the Cardinals in the national semifinals. After topping the then-No. 1 Rainbow Warriors twice during 2022 regular season in Worthen Arena, the Cardinals will travel to Manoa, Hawaii, for a two-match series to open the year Jan. 12-13.
Following the swing in the Pacific, Ball State returns home for eight straight matches, including six against non-conference opponents in Worthen Arena: Harvard (Jan. 20), Tusculum (Jan. 21), Queens (Jan. 27), Sacred Heart (Jan. 28), and Brigham Young University (Feb. 2 & Feb. 3).
The Cardinals round out the eight-match home stand by opening MIVA play against Lewis (Feb. 9) and McKendree (Feb. 11).
Following the home stand, the Cardinals have a tough MIVA road stretch with matches at Loyola (Feb. 16), Purdue Fort Wayne (Feb. 18), Lindenwood (Feb. 24), and Quincy (Feb. 25).
Ball State has one match at home against Central State to open the month of March, before heading out west for a spring break trip with matches at Long Beach State (March 3), UC San Diego (March 5), and Grand Canyon (March 8).
Following spring break, the Cardinals host Ohio State (March 15), Quincy (March 24), Lindenwood (March 25), Loyola (April 6), and Purdue Fort Wayne (April 8) to end the regular season.
Ball State will also play road MIVA matches at Ohio State (March 18), McKendree (March 30), and Lewis (April 1).
The 2023 MIVA Tournament will be played at home sites, with quarterfinals scheduled for April 15, the semifinals April 19, and the title match April 22.
The winner of the MIVA Tournament earns the league's automatic bid into the 2023 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship which will take place May 4-6 at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.
"We are looking forward to the 2023 season around the corner," Cruz said. "Our goal with scheduling was to challenge the team with tough non-conference competition and I believe we achieved that objective. Our guys will have a handful of opportunities to learn and grow as the season progresses while seeing some of the nation's best teams along the way. We expect the MIVA will be a tough road and we will keep our focus on improving so we can be at our best when the back half of the season rolls around. We are excited to kick off the season against the defending champs and see our fans back in Worthen in January."
The Cardinals are looking to build off a historic 2022 season which saw Cruz, in his first year at the helm, lead Ball State to a 23-4 overall record and the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship.
The 2022 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season and tournament champions, BSU was also ranked third in the final NVA/AVCA Men's Division I-II Coaches Poll: the highest ranking in program history.
Ironically, the 2023 campaign will start against a familiar opponent in two-time defending national champion Hawai'i which earned a hard-fought 3-2 (28-26, 19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-11) victory over the Cardinals in the national semifinals. After topping the then-No. 1 Rainbow Warriors twice during 2022 regular season in Worthen Arena, the Cardinals will travel to Manoa, Hawaii, for a two-match series to open the year Jan. 12-13.
Following the swing in the Pacific, Ball State returns home for eight straight matches, including six against non-conference opponents in Worthen Arena: Harvard (Jan. 20), Tusculum (Jan. 21), Queens (Jan. 27), Sacred Heart (Jan. 28), and Brigham Young University (Feb. 2 & Feb. 3).
The Cardinals round out the eight-match home stand by opening MIVA play against Lewis (Feb. 9) and McKendree (Feb. 11).
Following the home stand, the Cardinals have a tough MIVA road stretch with matches at Loyola (Feb. 16), Purdue Fort Wayne (Feb. 18), Lindenwood (Feb. 24), and Quincy (Feb. 25).
Ball State has one match at home against Central State to open the month of March, before heading out west for a spring break trip with matches at Long Beach State (March 3), UC San Diego (March 5), and Grand Canyon (March 8).
Following spring break, the Cardinals host Ohio State (March 15), Quincy (March 24), Lindenwood (March 25), Loyola (April 6), and Purdue Fort Wayne (April 8) to end the regular season.
Ball State will also play road MIVA matches at Ohio State (March 18), McKendree (March 30), and Lewis (April 1).
The 2023 MIVA Tournament will be played at home sites, with quarterfinals scheduled for April 15, the semifinals April 19, and the title match April 22.
The winner of the MIVA Tournament earns the league's automatic bid into the 2023 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship which will take place May 4-6 at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.
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