Ball State University
10-4,3-1MIVA
Lindenwood
3-7,0-4MIVA
No. 8 Ball State Sweeps Lindenwood on the Road
February 20, 2025 | Men's Volleyball
ST. CHARLES, Mo. --Â No. 8 Ball State defeated Lindenwood in a 3-0 (25-25, 25-17, 25-22) sweep Thursday night on the road for another Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) win.Â
The Cardinals (10-4; 3-1 MIVA) came out strong in the first set, hitting .333 while holding the Lions (3-7; 0-4 MIVA) to -.040. Braydon Savitski-Lynde helped lead the team early with a 7-3 service ace. From there, it was all Ball State as the Cardinals were able to overpower Lindenwood in a 25-15 finish. Vanis Buckholz played a big role in the team's early lead, recording four total blocks in the opening set. Â
The Lions were more aggressive heading into the second frame, going point-for-point through 12-12. An ace followed by a kill from Ryan Louis gave the Cardinals a 15-12 lead, kickstarting the team's momentum to close the set. A kill from Savitski-Lynde secured the frame at 25-17. Â
Leading the match 2-0, Ball State jumped ahead early in the third. Down 4-1, Lindenwood battled back on a four-point run to take a 5-4 advantage. A solo block from Wil Basilio, followed by a block assist with Buckholz helped put the Cardinals back on top. It was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, heading into the final points tied at 20-20. The Lions struck next, followed by three straight Cardinal points to give Ball State a 23-21 lead. Lindenwood was able to get one more before Savitski-Lynde and Patrick Rogers closed the game at 25-22 on back-to-back kills. Â
Rogers led the offense with 10 kills and two aces, hitting .444 from the floor. Â
Basilio had a stellar game both offensively and defensively, recording a career-high in kills and blocks. With eight total kills, the freshman hit a .636 (8-1-11) percentage, helping Rogers to lead the offensive efforts. At the net, Basilio added four blocks, including a block solo. He also had an ace on the night, his second of the season. Â
Helping Basilio at the net and leading the team in blocks was Buckholz who tied his season high at seven, with four block assists and three block solos. Â
Overall, Ball State hit at a .439 (32-7-57) percentage, adding six aces and 13 blocks in the match. Â
Next up, the Cardinals will head to Lebanon, Illinois on Saturday (Feb. 22) to take on No. 17 McKendree. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET first serve. Â
