Ball State University
Central State University
Men's Volleyball Hosts Central State Wednesday; Heads Out West for Spring Break
February 28, 2023 | Men's Volleyball
No. 12 Ball State (9-5) vs Central State (8-11) Mar. 1, 6 pm ET (Muncie, Ind./Worthen Arena)
at No. 4 Long Beach State (8-2) Mar. 3, 10 pm ET
at UC San Diego (6-8) Mar. 5, 5 pm ET
Series History: Ball State leads the all-time series 2-0
Last meeting: Ball State 3, Central State 0 (3/28/06) in Muncie
Series History: Long Beach State leads the all-time series 15-4
Last meeting: Long Beach State 3, Ball State 1 (3/14/03) in Long Beach, Calif.
Series History: Ball State leads the all-time series 8-0
Last meeting: Ball State 3, UC San Diego 0 in Lajolla, Calif.
OPENING SET:
CRUZ'S FIRST MEMORABLE SEASON: The Cardinals are looking to build off a historic 2022 season which saw Donan 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. BSU was also ranked third in the final NVA/AVCA Men's Division I-II Coaches Poll: the highest ranking in program history. Ball State was also the 2022 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season and tournament champions. Cruz was named the 2022 AVCA Coach of the Year last season and MIVA Coach of the Year.Â
SCOUTING CENTRAL STATE: The Marauders come to Ball State for the first time since the 2006 season when the Cardinals beat Central State by a score of 3-0 on March 28 in Worthen Arena. So far this season, the Marauders own an 8-11 over mark. Central State comes to Muncie after beating Benedict College in a 3-0 sweep in Columbia, SC, Feb. 25. The Marauders have also faced fellow Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) opponent Ohio State resulting in a 3-0 loss for Central State in Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 5. The Marauders are led by Cameron Lee with 216 total kills while averaging 3.09 kills per contest.
SCOUTING NO. 4 LONG BEACH STATE AND UC SAN DIEGO: The Cardinals will head out west to face No. 4 Long Beach State and UC San Diego this weekend. It has been 20 years since Ball State has played Long Beach State. Recently Long Beach State earned back-to-back 3-0 sweeps at home in Walter Pyramid versus NJIT. Similar opponents that Ball State and Long Beach State have faced thus far this season were MIVA member Loyola Chicago, resulting in a 3-2 win for Long Beach State, Feb. 3 in Long Beach, Calif. Long Beach is led offensively by Sotiris Siapanis with 107 total kills while averaging 3.15 kills per set. After Long Beach State, the Cardinals will continue their two matches in the state of California when Ball State plays at UC San Diego which is also a member of the Big West Conference along with Long Beach State. The 6-8 Triton's recently fell to No. 14 CSUN 1-3 at home at LionTree Arena. Ball State has won all eight matches it has played in the past against UC San Diego. The Tritons are led by Ryan Ka with 166 total kills while averaging 3.69 kills per set.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS: - Ball State swept its long MIVA road weekend last week after posting a 3-2 thriller at Lindenwood and then a 3-0 sweep Saturday against Quincy. Kaleb Jenness led the Cardinals charge once again totaling 36 kills in two matches while averaging 4.50 kills per set. Jenness also hit .380 from the floor and had 17 defensive digs along with one block solo and a service ace.
NDAVAZOCHEVA EARNS MIVA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK & OFF THE BLOCK NATIONAL HONORS: Sophomore Tinaishe Ndavazocheva of the ninth-ranked Ball State men's volleyball team has earned his first career weekly honor for the Cardinals after being named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Offensive Player of the Week. Ndavazocheva gave Ball State its first win over a ranked foe this week, splitting a two-match series with No. 11 BYU. The sophomore from Masvingo, Zimbabwe finished his week with 43 kills, averaging 5.38 per set. He was efficient with his offense, hitting over .300 in both matches and averaging .393 for the week. The outside hitter also added a pair of aces. Ndavazocheva was also recognized by Off The Block as the nation's Outside Attacker of the Week.
CARDINAL STANDOUTS RETURN: The Cardinals return veterans outside attacker Kaleb Jenness and middle blocker Felix Egharevba. Jenness has been tabbed preseason All-MIVA three straight seasons. Last year, Jenness was tabbed the MIVA Player of the Year and the MIVA Tournament MVP while also tallying First Team All-MIVA honors. Jenness was also tabbed as First Team NVA/AVCA All-American. Egharevba, a force to be reckoned with on defense, Egharevba was tabbed to the All-MIVA Second Team for the second time in his career. Last year Egharevba also earned NVA/AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. He ended last season as the 2021-22 NCAA Division NC statistical champion for blocks per set (1.41).
NEXT GAME: The Cardinals continue their journey out west Wednesday, March 8 in Phoenix, Ariz. against Grand Canyon Univeristy at 10 pm ET. After that, Ball State returns to Worthen Arena to face one of its longest MIVA rivals Ohio State for Club Volleyball Night. The Cardinals will be recognizing Munciana's 50 year anniversary during that match.
