Ball State University Athletics
Three Cardinals Reach Double Figure Kills in MVB’s Loss at No. 5 GCU
March 08, 2023 | Men's Volleyball
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The No. 11 Ball State men's volleyball team (11-7) fell in a 3-0 sweep (24-26, 23-25, 19-25) to Grand Canyon University (17-1) Wednesday night at GCU Arena.
Despite the loss, three Cardinals ended the game with double digit kills which was led by Kaleb Jenness who had 14 kills. Tinaishe Ndavazocheva finished the night with 11 and Dyer Ball had 10. Ball also had a season best .643 hitting percentage for the night. Keau Thompson marked the lone service ace for the Cardinals.
Defensively, Ball and David Flores picked up seven digs apiece.
Ball State was plagued by 11 attack errors along with 11 service errors while the Lopes were efficient from the floor hitting .511 as a team.
The first two sets between the Cardinals and the Lopes were neck-and-neck but Ball State had a chance to win the first frame up 24-23 after a Ndavazocheva kill. GCU earned the next two points to take set one from the Cardinals, 26-24.
The second frame mimicked the first with the score tied 23-23 GCU prevailed again to take the 2-0 edge over BSU.
After that, GCU dominated the majority of frame three and went on to complete the sweep over the Cardinals.
The Ball State men's volleyball team returns home to Worthen Arena Wednesday, March 7 for a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) rivalry match against Ohio State. First serve is at 7 pm ET. It will also be club volleyball night as the Cardinals celebrate 50 years of Munciana Volleyball.
