Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Ball State University/Bobby Ellis
MVB to Host First NCAA Tournament Regional-Round Match Since 1992
April 26, 2026 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's volleyball team prepares for its first trip to the National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship since 2022, earning the No. 4 seed in the expanded 12-team field, announced during the NCAA Selection Show Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals will face the winner of May 1's matchup between Pepperdine and Fort Valley State on May 2 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Due to Ball State University's 2026 Commencement Ceremony, Saturday's match will take place at the Noblesville Boom's Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 27.
The tournament begins May 1 with the regional round and continues through the national championship on May 11 at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles, Calif. Semifinal matches take place on Saturday, May 9 and will be streamed on ESPN+. The tournament finale will be streamed on ESPN2 on Monday, May 11.
The Cardinals compiled a 13-3 conference mark in 2026 to claim the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Regular Season Championship, followed by a MIVA Tournament Championship after overcoming Northern Kentucky (April 18), McKendree (April 22) and Loyola Chicago (April 25). 2026 MIVA Coach of the Year Mike Iandolo guided Ball State to a dominant season in his first year in the position, securing an automatic bid to the program's 17th NCAA Tournament appearance.
On the national level, Ball State is ranked second in hitting percentage (.384) and are third in both assists per set (12.34) and kills per set (13.52). Individually, The Cardinals' attack is led by MIVA Player of the Year Patrick Rogers who sits at sixth in hitting (0.413) and kills per set (3.95). BSU's blocking ranks eighth in the nation, averaging 2.41 per set.
Due to Ball State University's 2026 Commencement Ceremony, Saturday's match will take place at the Noblesville Boom's Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 27.
The tournament begins May 1 with the regional round and continues through the national championship on May 11 at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles, Calif. Semifinal matches take place on Saturday, May 9 and will be streamed on ESPN+. The tournament finale will be streamed on ESPN2 on Monday, May 11.
The Cardinals compiled a 13-3 conference mark in 2026 to claim the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Regular Season Championship, followed by a MIVA Tournament Championship after overcoming Northern Kentucky (April 18), McKendree (April 22) and Loyola Chicago (April 25). 2026 MIVA Coach of the Year Mike Iandolo guided Ball State to a dominant season in his first year in the position, securing an automatic bid to the program's 17th NCAA Tournament appearance.
On the national level, Ball State is ranked second in hitting percentage (.384) and are third in both assists per set (12.34) and kills per set (13.52). Individually, The Cardinals' attack is led by MIVA Player of the Year Patrick Rogers who sits at sixth in hitting (0.413) and kills per set (3.95). BSU's blocking ranks eighth in the nation, averaging 2.41 per set.
Players Mentioned
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