No. 9 Men’s Volleyball Defeats Mckendree 3-1 in MIVA Action

Saturday, February 11

Muncie, Ind.

6 pm

Ball State University

McKendree University

No. 9 Men’s Volleyball Defeats Mckendree 3-1 in MIVA Action

February 11, 2023 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - The No. 9 Ball State men's volleyball team (6-4, 1-1 MIVA) got back on the winning track after registering a 3-1 defeat over McKendree (5-4, 0-2 MIVA) Saturday night in Worthen Arena.

Ball State started hot in the first two sets and would take both from the Bearcats by a score of 25-21 and 25-23, respectively.

McKendree regrouped in the third frame, controlling the tempo most of the set. The Cardinals found themselves fighting to stay within reach, but the Bearcats would prevail to take set three from Ball State, 25-23.

The Cardinals would then jump out to a significant lead late in set four (19-14) after a kill from Kaleb Jenness. A big part of Ball State's success in the fourth was also Vanis Buckholz with some nice defending plays at the net alongside teammate Jakub Wiercinski, who got his first start as the Cardinals' setter tonight.

Ball State remained in control against McKendree the remainder of the fourth frame. Dyer Ball's kills made the score 24-21 and then match point came shortly after thanks to a McKendree attack error.

For the match, Ball led the Cardinals offensively with 18 kills while Tinaishe Ndavazocheva finished the night with 12. Wiercinski dished out 46 assists off 89 attempts for a .517 accuracy, he also had a service ace and six block assists.

The Ball State men's volleyball team will be back in Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association action Thursday at Loyola. First serve is at 8 pm ET.