Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Quincy University
Men's Volleyball Returns Home For Back-to-Back MIVA Matches This Weekend
March 23, 2023 | Men's Volleyball
The Cardinals will host Quincy at 7 pm ET Friday and Lindenwood at 6 pm ET Saturday
Friday's Match
Ball State (12-8, 5-3 MIVA) | Quincy (7-13, 0-8 MIVA)
Last Meeting: Ball State 3, Quincy 0 (2/25/23)
Series History:Â Ball State has defeated Quincy in 56 of 61 all-time meetings and has won the last six.
Saturday's Match
Ball State (12-8, 5-3 MIVA) | Lindenwood (9-7, 6-2 MIVA)
Last Meeting: Ball State 3, Lindenwood 2 (2/24/23)
Series History:Â Ball State leads the all-time series 22-4
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 QUINCY: The last time the Cardinals and the Hawks faced off was this season on the road in Quincy, Ill. which saw Ball State move past the Hawks earning a 3-0 sweep, Feb. 25, 2023. The Hawks come to Ball State on a 22-match MIVA losing streak and have not won a conference contest since the 2021 season on April 3 after defeating Ohio State, 3-2.Â
SCOUTING LINDENWOOD: The Lions come to Ball State looking to extend a four-game winning streak. Lindenwood recently defeated Quincy 3-0 Saturday, March 18. The Cardinals and the Lions last faced each other Feb. 24 in St. Charles, Mo., earning a five-set thriller against Lindenwood. Kaleb Jenness led BSU offensively with 17-kills that match while adding 12 defensive digs. AJ Lewis turned in a 16-kill performance for Lindenwood. The Lions had taken sets one and two from the Cardinals (25-14, 25-18) but the Cardinals fought back to take frames three, four and five (25-17, 25-22, 15-8).
SCOUTING BALL STATE: The Cardinals are ranked 12th in the nation after splitting their two-match rival series against Ohio State last week. Ball State earned a 3-0 sweep over Ohio State Wednesday, March 15 in Worthen Arena and then dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in Columbus against the Buckeyes March 18. For the week, Kaleb Jenness led Ball State with 28 kills while hitting .350 from the floor. He earned 30 points for the Cardinals and ranked second in digs with 13.Â
MIVA STANDINGS: Loyola Chicago still leads the MIVA with an 8-1 conference mark. Lindenwood comes in second at 6-2 while Ohio State is third owning a 6-3 record. Ball State sits in fourth place with a 5-3 ledger. There's only a few more weeks of regular season play with the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals beginning April 15.Â
NEXT UP:Â Ball State will head on the road for one last time in regular season play when it competes at McKendree (3/30) and at Lewis (4/1).
