MVB Defends Worthen Versus Northern Kentucky Thursday

Thursday, April 2

Muncie, IN

7 pm

Ball State University

Northern Kentucky

Buy Tickets

Photo by: Heather Parker

MVB Defends Worthen Versus Northern Kentucky Thursday

April 01, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

No. 7 Ball State Men's Volleyball (20-3; 11-2 MIVA) vs Northern Kentucky (5-14; 2-10 MIVA)
Match 24 vs. Northern Kentucky	Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. ET Live Stats \| ESPN+ \| Tickets
Game Notes	Ball State \| NKU
Social Media	X \| Instagram \| Facebook
Next Point - A Ball State Sports Link Documentary Series	Episode 1 \| Episode 2

This Week in Ball State Men's Volleyball: With the end of the 2026 regular season on the horizon, the seventh-ranked Ball State men's volleyball program looks maintain its grip at the top of the MIVA as it welcomes conference foe Northern Kentucky to Worthen Arena April 2. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. ET.

The theme of Thursday evening's match is Red Out. Fans are encouraged to pack Worthen Arena wearing red as they cheer on the Cardinals.

Teddy Bear Toss for Isaiah 117 House: During the first media time out of the opening set Thursday evening, fans are encouraged to take part in the teddy bear toss for Isaiah 117 House. Teddy bears of all sizes will be allowed through the doors of Worthen Arena, and those in attendance are asked to wait for the announcement to commence.

Isaiah 117 House provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting placement.

Last Serve: The Cardinals opened its road swing last week with a straight-set win over No. 11 Lindenwood (25-20, 25-18, 26-24). The Cardinals hit .406 and held Lindenwood to .167 behind 24 assists from Lucas Machado, while Ryan Louis led the offense with nine kills and Patrick Rogers added eight. Ball State's defense set the tone with a 9.5-4 blocking advantage, led by Will Patterson's six blocks, and the Cardinals closed out a tight third set with a Savitski-Lynde kill and a match-ending triple block.

Two nights later, Ball State completed another sweep over No. 12 McKendree (28-26, 25-22, 25-19), snapping the Bearcats' nine-match winning streak. Rogers led the way with a dominant double-double, posting 17 kills on .625 hitting and a career-high-tying 15 digs. Machado directed a .378 attack with 40 assists. The Cardinals' defense totaled 41 digs, highlighted strong back-row efforts from Rogers, Wil Basilio, and Victor Scherer, and key late plays, including clutch kills from Rogers in a tightly contested opening set and late service aces from Marty Canavan.

20-3 in the Iandolo Era: After taking the reigns of the program this past summer, head coach Mike Iandolo has marched the Cardinals to a 20-3 record to begin his first year in the position -- the team's best winning percentage since Iandolo's first year as an assistant coach in 2022, ending 23-4. The dominant campaign led to a conference regular season and tournament championship, as well a No.2 national ranking and national semifinal appearance.

Unbeaten at Worthen: At 12-straight wins inside Worthen Arena in 2026, Ball State is three wins away from completing the regular season with an unblemished record at home for the first time since the 2002 team went 13-0. That year's team ended the season 16-0 inside Worthen, taking three wins to claim what was the program's 14th MIVA tournament championship. The 2002 season was in the middle of a 26-match home streak that stretched from March 16, 2001 to Jan. 31, 2003. Including last year's 3-1 Senior Day win over McKendree (March 29), Ball State currently holds a 13-match streak on its home court which sits as the 10th-longest in program history.

Rogers Named MIVA OPOTW: After his aid in Ball State's sweeps over conference foes Lindenwood and McKendree, senior outside Patrick Rogers was named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Offensive Player of the Week by the league Tuesday morning. Rogers becomes an honoree of the award for the second time in 2026, earning the co-honor with the Bearcats' Sam Hoskin a few months back (Jan. 27). Rogers totals four offensive player of the week awards in his career. The attacking standout averaged 4.12 kills per set while hitting a .512 clip between the two contests.

Machado Climbs the Record Book: Junior setter Lucas Machado has tallied 773 assists so far in 2026, raising his career total to 2,256 and placing him ninth in the program's record book for career assists. As the primary general of the floor Machado has guided Ball State to a .377 hitting percentage, and if maintained, it would serve as the best team clip in program history. The current all-time percentage is .373, averaged in 1997.

Rogers AVCA POTY Watchlist: Senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers has been named as one of 15 members honored in the first ever watchlist for the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year award. The inaugural watch list was compiled by the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Awards committee. Semifinalists for the award are to be announced in early April, and the final four will be named prior to the 2026 National Collegiate Championship May 9-11. The 2026 AVCA Player of the Year is to be revealed during the championship banquet.

Welcome Back Palilonis: NKU head coach Jim Palilonis is no stranger to Ball State, as he played a key role as an assistant with the Cardinals where he helped guide the program to 15 winning seasons, five 20-win campaigns, and a 2002 NCAA Final Four appearance while overseeing setters, offensive strategy, and recruiting. During his tenure, the 1996 BSU graduate also contributed to the women's program's 2010 MAC title and 2011 NCAA Tournament berth.

Match History - NKU: These two teams will conclude its first season series on Thursday. Earlier in the campaign (Feb. 21), BSU visited the Norse at its home Regents Hall, handing NKU a straight-set loss (25-21, 25-18, 25-22).

Scouting NKU: Competing in its inaugural season in 2026, the Norse picked up its first pair of conference wins last week as they bested Queens on back-to-back nights (March 26 and 27). With five wins on the year, NKU has seen victories over Thomas More (Jan. 23), Maryland Eastern Shore (Feb. 12) and Central State (Feb. 13). On the road, the Norse is 1-4.

NKU has been on the other side of the net against nine ranked opponents this year, coming up short in each contest. Ball State matches the highest-ranked foe the Norse has seen this season, as the program fell to then No. 7 Loyola Chicago on March 21.

Statistically, NKU is placed last in hitting (.208), assists (9.54/set), kills (10.51/set), aces (1.05/set) and opponent hitting (.304). The unit is also seventh in blocks (1.69/set) and sixth in digs (7.90/set).

Griffin Wheatley leads the attack effort for the Norse, averaging 2.80 kills per set (14th MIVA) on .223 hitting (24th MIVA). Setter Nick Whitely controls the pace of NKU's offense, averaging 6.31 assists per set (8th in MIVA).

On defense, Adam Blair sits at 14th in the conference in blocks, averaging 0.71 per set. Ryan Peterson follows in 20th with 0.63 blocks per set. Libero Trace Klausing leads the team in digs, averaging 1.38 per set (24th MIVA).

Klausing captured the program's first conference weekly award, being named the MIVA Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday morning (March 31). The freshman played in all eight sets against Queens, posting a total of 20 digs between the two matches.

AVCA Top 20 Poll: Ball State entered the 2026 season ranked #16 in the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Preseason Poll with a total of 144 points. Heading into this week's action, the Cardinals are the highest ranked MIVA team, sitting at No. 7 with 335 votes.