Ball State University Athletics
Cardinals Sweep MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week Awards!
September 17, 2026 | Football, Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced today its Scholar Athletes of the Week. Ball State swept the latest round of awards as Fourth-Year QB Keldric Luster (football) and Junior Libero Sophie Ledbetter (volleyball) earned the male and female honors, respectively, for their performances in the previous week.
The Scholar Athlete of the Week Award is presented to a MAC male and/or female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition. An institution can nominate up to one male and one female student-athlete per week in any of that current season's sports. The winners are selected by a representative of the MAC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs).
MALE WINNER
Institution: Ball State
Name: Keldric Luster
Sport: Football
Position: Quarterback
Year: Fourth Year
GPA: 3.667
Major: Psychological Science
Week's Achievements (detailed description of week's events): Keldric Luster broke the Ball State passing record for completion percentage by a QB with at least 30 attempts, passing 27-of-32 for 256 yards and three touchdowns as the Cardinals got past Stony Brook, 41-17 last Saturday. For his efforts, Luster has been named the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the first by a Cardinal since Marquez Cooper won the award in October 2023. Luster's .844 completion percentage matches the second-best among FBS QBs over the season's first two weeks: Darian Mensah (Miami-FL) at Stanford (27-of-30, .900) and Caden Veltkamp (Florida Atlantic) vs. Navy (27-of-32, .844). Luster's three passing TDs, all in the first half, were the most by a Ball State QB the past two seasons. His 18 completions in the first half (18-of-21) were more than any Cardinals QB last season in any game.
Luster amassed 270 yards in total offense, in what was just the second start of his college career.
FEMALE WINNER
Institution: Ball State
Name: Sophie Ledbetter
Sport: Women's Volleyball
Position: Libero
Year: Junior
GPA: 4.00
Major: Nursing
Week's Achievements (detailed description of week's events): Junior libero Sophie Ledbetter turned in another solid weekend, earning tournament MVP honors at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Dunn Campbell Invitational after producing a 4.80 digs-per-set average which led all MAC players last week … In fact, Ledbetter currently ranks 12th nationally with a 4.86 digs-per-set average, helping the Cardinals lead all NCAA Division I teams with an 18.24 average ... In Saturday's win over Furman she tied her season-high with 26 digs, while serving up a career-high tying three aces ... She finished the tournament with four total aces, 11 assists and a .929 (26-for-28) reception percentage.
The Scholar Athlete of the Week Award is presented to a MAC male and/or female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition. An institution can nominate up to one male and one female student-athlete per week in any of that current season's sports. The winners are selected by a representative of the MAC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs).
MALE WINNER
Institution: Ball State
Name: Keldric Luster
Sport: Football
Position: Quarterback
Year: Fourth Year
GPA: 3.667
Major: Psychological Science
Week's Achievements (detailed description of week's events): Keldric Luster broke the Ball State passing record for completion percentage by a QB with at least 30 attempts, passing 27-of-32 for 256 yards and three touchdowns as the Cardinals got past Stony Brook, 41-17 last Saturday. For his efforts, Luster has been named the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the first by a Cardinal since Marquez Cooper won the award in October 2023. Luster's .844 completion percentage matches the second-best among FBS QBs over the season's first two weeks: Darian Mensah (Miami-FL) at Stanford (27-of-30, .900) and Caden Veltkamp (Florida Atlantic) vs. Navy (27-of-32, .844). Luster's three passing TDs, all in the first half, were the most by a Ball State QB the past two seasons. His 18 completions in the first half (18-of-21) were more than any Cardinals QB last season in any game.
Luster amassed 270 yards in total offense, in what was just the second start of his college career.
FEMALE WINNER
Institution: Ball State
Name: Sophie Ledbetter
Sport: Women's Volleyball
Position: Libero
Year: Junior
GPA: 4.00
Major: Nursing
Week's Achievements (detailed description of week's events): Junior libero Sophie Ledbetter turned in another solid weekend, earning tournament MVP honors at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Dunn Campbell Invitational after producing a 4.80 digs-per-set average which led all MAC players last week … In fact, Ledbetter currently ranks 12th nationally with a 4.86 digs-per-set average, helping the Cardinals lead all NCAA Division I teams with an 18.24 average ... In Saturday's win over Furman she tied her season-high with 26 digs, while serving up a career-high tying three aces ... She finished the tournament with four total aces, 11 assists and a .929 (26-for-28) reception percentage.
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
QB
/ FootballThursday, September 17
Wednesday, September 16
Monday, September 14
Friday, September 11