MVB Claims Straight Sets Over Purdue Fort Wayne

Saturday, March 21

Fort Wayne, IN

7 pm

Ball State University

18-3,9-2MIVA

Purdue Fort Wayne

9-8,4-6MIVA

Ball St.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Photo by: Heather Parker

March 21, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The ninth-ranked Ball State men's volleyball team brought an efficient offense and dominant defense to the Gates Sports Center Saturday evening, securing a straight-set win over Purdue Fort Wayne (25-21, 25-17, 25-23).

The Cardinals (18-3, 9-2 MIVA) sit alone at the top of the conference rankings with the victory as it claims the season series over the Mastodons (9-8, 4-6 MIVA).

Ball State finished the match with a .348 hitting percentage while holding PFW to a clip of .185, guided by junior setter Lucas Machado who recorded 23 assists. The difference in the contest came in errors as BSU had just nine compared to the Mastodons' 20. Also making the difference was the teams' block totals, with Ball State tallying 12.5 while PFW had four.

Patrick Rogers led the offense for the Cardinals, tallying a team-high 11 kills on .400 hitting as he contributed 15.5 total points. Rogers also claimed a trio of service aces and blocks. Ryan Louis was credited with six kills on a .313 clip as well as two aces and four blocks. Wil Basilio matched with six kills of his own on top of three blocks and a pair of digs.

Will Patterson was a force at the net, leading the match with a season-high seven blocks. Libero Victor. Scherer paced the Cardinals in digs, totaling six.

Ball State capitalized on PFW's early attack errors and service mistakes to take the opening set 25-21. The Cardinals then dominated the second frame, jumping to an early 3-0 lead and utilizing 5.5 blocks as a team. Consecutive Louis aces managed to stifle a Mastodon comeback attempt, aiding a 14-8 run to take the second game.

In a tight third set that featured 16 of the match's 17 tied scores, Ball State overcame a late deficit with a critical triple block and a clutch Basilio kill, eventually securing the 25-23 victory on a Mastodon attack error.

Ball State looks to defend its top conference placement as it continues its road schedule with stops at Lindenwood (March 26) at 8 p.m. and McKendree (March 28) at 5 p.m.