Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, January 31
Fairfax, VA
5 pm
Ball State University
8-1,0-0MIVA
3
vs
0
George Mason University
3-4,0-0EIVA
1
2
3
F
Ball St.
31
25
25
3
George Mason
29
20
18
0
MVB Completes Fourth Straight Sweep Against the Patriots
January 31, 2026 | Men's Volleyball
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Ball State men's volleyball team extended its win streak to five in a row Saturday evening, topping George Mason in straight sets (31-29, 25-20, 25-18). The men's team continues the program's best start to a campaign since its national semifinal season in 2022.
Ryan Louis continued his impressive sophomore season, posting a match-high 13 kills and an ace. Patrick Rogers recorded nine kills, hitting .333, along with Braydon Savitski-Lynde who added eight kills on a perfect hitting percentage. Wil Basilio contributed seven kills on a .333 clip to go with his fourth match this season with a pair of aces.
Lucas Machado covered the floor with a match-leading 38 assists. He also completed two service aces, three blocks and four digs.
The Cardinals' (8-1, 0-0 MIVA) defense reached its second match this season with double-digit blocks, totaling 10.5. The team's highest total in 2026 is 15.5 vs. NJIT (Jan. 10). Will Patterson led the effort with five, followed by Savitski-Lynde and Louis with four. Louis also led the Cardinals in digs, capturing six, while Rogers and Basilio recorded five each.
The opening set was a competitive battle between the Cardinals and the Patriots (3-4, 0-0 EIVA), seeing a total of 21 ties and 10 lead changes. Both teams strung together multiple series of runs, with Ball State being crutched with six attack and service errors. Still, the Cardinals completed 23 kills compared to GMU's 14. The Patriots were up two at set point, but back-to-back kills from Louis tied the opener. Both sides traded until consecutive strikes from Rogers swung the momentum in Ball State's favor, claiming set one after a GMU attack error.
The story flipped in the second set, with George Mason recording seven attack errors and six service errors, hitting just .250 as a team. Ball State reached a three-point lead at 8-5, and while the Patriots made it even at 11, the Cardinals opened a four-point run in return. Two straight GMU attack errors gave Ball State a six-point advantage, and kills from Louis, Basilio and Savitski-Lynde gave the Cardinals two sets in the match.
Ball State jumped to a 6-0 lead to begin the third and didn't look back. GMU put together a couple of runs to chip away at the gap, but five straight points advanced the lead to 10 at 23-13. GMU scored three straight out of a timeout, but a service error ended the match at 25-18.
The Cardinals return home to begin conference play, hosting Queens Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. inside Worthen Arena.
Ryan Louis continued his impressive sophomore season, posting a match-high 13 kills and an ace. Patrick Rogers recorded nine kills, hitting .333, along with Braydon Savitski-Lynde who added eight kills on a perfect hitting percentage. Wil Basilio contributed seven kills on a .333 clip to go with his fourth match this season with a pair of aces.
Lucas Machado covered the floor with a match-leading 38 assists. He also completed two service aces, three blocks and four digs.
The Cardinals' (8-1, 0-0 MIVA) defense reached its second match this season with double-digit blocks, totaling 10.5. The team's highest total in 2026 is 15.5 vs. NJIT (Jan. 10). Will Patterson led the effort with five, followed by Savitski-Lynde and Louis with four. Louis also led the Cardinals in digs, capturing six, while Rogers and Basilio recorded five each.
The opening set was a competitive battle between the Cardinals and the Patriots (3-4, 0-0 EIVA), seeing a total of 21 ties and 10 lead changes. Both teams strung together multiple series of runs, with Ball State being crutched with six attack and service errors. Still, the Cardinals completed 23 kills compared to GMU's 14. The Patriots were up two at set point, but back-to-back kills from Louis tied the opener. Both sides traded until consecutive strikes from Rogers swung the momentum in Ball State's favor, claiming set one after a GMU attack error.
The story flipped in the second set, with George Mason recording seven attack errors and six service errors, hitting just .250 as a team. Ball State reached a three-point lead at 8-5, and while the Patriots made it even at 11, the Cardinals opened a four-point run in return. Two straight GMU attack errors gave Ball State a six-point advantage, and kills from Louis, Basilio and Savitski-Lynde gave the Cardinals two sets in the match.
Ball State jumped to a 6-0 lead to begin the third and didn't look back. GMU put together a couple of runs to chip away at the gap, but five straight points advanced the lead to 10 at 23-13. GMU scored three straight out of a timeout, but a service error ended the match at 25-18.
The Cardinals return home to begin conference play, hosting Queens Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. inside Worthen Arena.
Team Stats
BSU
GMU
Kills
44
39
Errors
11
17
Attempts
87
89
Hitting %
.379
.247
Points
60.5
48.5
Assists
42
35
Aces
6
3
Blocks
10.5
6.5
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Men's VolleyballOPP
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's VolleyballOH
/ Men's VolleyballMB/OPP
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