MVB Claims 16th MIVA Tournament Championship With a Sweep Versus the Ramblers

Saturday, April 25

Muncie, Ind.

6 p.m.

Ball State University

25-4,13-3MIVA

Loyola University Chicago

20-8,12-4MIVA

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Loyola Chicago	22	20	20	0
Ball St.	25	25	25	3

Photo by: Ball State University/Bobby Ellis

MVB Claims 16th MIVA Tournament Championship With a Sweep Versus the Ramblers

April 25, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's volleyball program completed a straight-set win over Loyola Chicago Saturday evening (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) in front of a roaring home crowd inside Worthen Arena, capturing the program's 16th Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament Championship. With the title, the men's team earns an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, hosted by UCLA.

The Cardinals (25-4, 13-3 MVIA) last appeared on the national stage in 2022, earning a No. 2 ranking, its highest in program history, as well as a semifinal appearance.

In his first campaign leading the program, Mike Iandolo has become the fourth out of five head coaches in the program's history to win the MIVA Regular Season and Tournament Championship in his first year. Don Shondell did so in his first year in both 1964 and 1966, followed by Marvin Gray in 1965, and Donan Cruz in 2022.

Ball State now holds a 2-0 advantage versus the Ramblers (20-8, 12-4 MIVA) in the tournament finale, mirroring its sweep over LUC to claim the trophy in 2002. BSU also captured two wins over Loyola in the same season for the seventh time in series history. The Cardinals did the same in 2024, 2017, 2004, 2002, 1999 and 1997.

The Cardinals used an efficient offensive performance and strong defense at the net to control the competitive match, with Ball State hitting .477 as a unit, guided by setter Lucas Machado who totaled 31 assists. The squad tallied 11 total blocks to Loyola's zero, led by Machado and Wil Basilio who had four each.

The opening frame was a back-and-forth battle, featuring 17 of the match's 31 tied scores. With the set even at 20, Ball State found late separation during a 5-2 run that was highlighted by kills from MIVA Player of the Year Patrick Rogers, Basilio and Daniel Günther.

Rogers was the only player in the contest to reach double-digit kills, striking down 16 on a .481 clip. The senior also totaled a career high in aces, capturing six. Basilio added eight kills on 11 swings, while Ryan Louis and Jacob Surette added six and five kills, respectively.

In the second set, with the score tied 17-17, Rogers delivered three consecutive aces after a Ramblers attack error to give Ball State a four-point advantage. The Cardinals would ride that momentum to a 25-20 set win. The momentum carried into the closing frame, with the unit producing its most efficient frame of the contest, hitting .565. Rogers totaled 10 kills in the final set alone, charging Ball State to complete the sweep.

For their dominant performances throughout the Cardinals' championship run, Machado, Basilio and Rogers were named to the MIVA All-Tournament Team. Rogers also earned the accolade of MIVA Tournament MVP.

The Cardinals now set their sights on the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with regional matchups beginning May 1. The National Collegiate Men's Selection Show takes place tomorrow, April 26, at 4 p.m. ET on the NCAA website.