MVB Hits Season Best in Sweep of Maryville

Friday, January 24

Muncie, IN

7:00 PM

Ball State University

5-3,0-0MIVA

Maryville University

0-3,0-0DI Independent

Maryville (MO)

Ball St.

January 24, 2025 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score PDF Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State men's volleyball team hit a season-best .513 to close the week with a dominating 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-16) victory over Maryville Friday evening in Worthen Arena.

Senior outside Tinaishe Ndavazocheva led the charge for the Cardinals (5-3), tying his season high with 14 kills while connecting at a .619 (14-1-21) clip to hand the Saints (0-3) their third consecutive loss to a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association program this season.

Junior outside Patrick Rogers and senior opposite Rajé Alleyne were not far behind, chipping in nine and eight kills, respectively. Rogers connected for a .471 (9-1-17) rate of success, while Alleyne hit .333 (8-3-15).

Sophomore middle blocker Will Patterson also had a solid night, smashing kills on five of his seven swings for a .714 (5-0-7) rate of success. Patterson also led the Cardinals at the net, factoring in seven of the team's 8.5 total blocks.

Setting up the Ball State offense was sophomore Lucas Machado, who dished out 37 assists to go along with a match-high 11 total digs. It was his second consecutive double-double and the third of his collegiate career.

Overall, the Cardinals defense limited Maryville to a .282 hitting mark, including a -.032 (8-9-31) rate of success in the opening frame. Ball State also held a 5-to-1 edge in service aces, with four aces coming from Ndavazocheva.

While Maryville held a 4-3 lead early in the opening set, a service error gave Ndavazocheva the serve and led to a four-point run. BSU never looked back, pulling ahead by 10 points at the 17-7 mark and winning the frame by 12.

The Cardinals scored three of the first four points in the second frame and pulled ahead 17-11 thanks to a Ndavazocheva ace. However, the Saints would battle back and pull within one at 23-22, and again at 24-23. Following a BSU timeout, however, Ndavazocheva smashed his sixth and final kill of the frame to give Ball State the set at 25-23.

While Maryville held a slim 5-4 edge in the third, a kill and another strong service run from Ndavazocheva pushed the Cardinals ahead for good. Ball State would lead 19-15 late, before a kill and four-point service run from Rogers gave BSU match point at 24-15. Two rallies later Rodgers ended the match with his ninth and final kill of the night.

The Saints' Makai Scott led all players with 17 kills and hit an even .500 (17-3-28) for the night, while Zac Clark collected a team-high six digs.

The Ball State men's volleyball team returns to action next Thursday when it opens a two-match homestand versus Tusculum. Match time is set for 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena.