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. -- 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.
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.
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.
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.
Rogers led the offense with 10 kills and two aces, hitting .444 from the floor.
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.
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.
Overall, Ball State hit at a .439 (32-7-57) percentage, adding six aces and 13 blocks in the match.
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.
