MVB Captures Best Home Start Since 2004 With Win Over the Mastodons

Friday, February 27

Muncie, IN

7 pm

Ball State University

15-2,6-1MIVA

Purdue Fort Wayne

8-5,3-3MIVA

Purdue Fort Wayne

Ball St.

Photo by: Heather Parker

MVB Captures Best Home Start Since 2004 With Win Over the Mastodons

February 27, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – The 10th-ranked Ball State men's volleyball team defended its home court once more Friday evening, after taking down in-state rival Purdue Fort Wayne in straight sets (25-18, 21-25, 25-12). With 11 consecutive wins at home in 2026, Ball State sees its best start at home in going 11-0 in 2004.

On alumni night inside Worthen Arena, senior outside Patrick Rogers led the Cardinals' (15-2, 6-1 MIVA) march over the Mastodons (8-5, 3-3 MIVA) with 16 kills on a .483 clip. Rogers also had three digs and two service aces, both of which he tallied in the opening set.

Sophomore opposite Ryan Louis contributed nine kills on .318 hitting while pacing the Cardinals with a trio of aces. Louis also recorded his second-highest dig total of the season, recording seven. Wil Basilio added six kills of his own with two blocks and five digs.

Lucas Machado led the floor with 32 assists, aiding Ball State to a .400 overall hitting percentage, compared to PFW who hit just .203. Machado was also a main contributor to Ball State's defense, leading the match with a season-high five blocks with seven digs. Three of those blocks came in set two, along with
Braydon Savitski-Lynde, who ended up with four total after three sets.

Libero Victor Scherer led the match with nine digs, the sixth time this season he's done so.

The Cardinals led the entire way through sets one and three, allowing the Mastodons to come within just two points in the opening set while leading by as many as eight. In the final set of the evening, Ball State limited PFW to hit just .050 while leading by as many as 13. In set two, the Mastodons briefly maintained a two-point lead before eventually seeing the advantage go to the Cardinals for good at 19-18.

Ball State travels next week for another pair of road matches. The Cardinals first stop at Loyola Chicago to battle the Ramblers on March 5 at 7 p.m. The men then head to challenge Lewis on March 7 at 5 p.m.