One year ago, Ball State senior Rajé Allyne was playing for Quincy. But after transferring for this season, he said it was because of Ball State head coach Donan Cruz that drew him to Muncie.
“I felt like it was the right choice for me,” Allyne said. “I knew that he was a good coach and I had many conversations with him before.”
Tonight, the opposite hitter made his debut in Worthen Arena as the Cardinals hosted Wabash for their first contest of the 2025 season. Though he admitted he was a little nervous before taking the floor, his nerves did not hold him back as he led red and black with eight kills, leading them to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-21) victory over the Little Giants.
With the Cardinals still figuring out a rotation and trying to get everyone some playing time, Cruz wanted to see how the team would handle an actual match after a long period of practicing. To him, it went better than expected.
“We're trying to figure some things out. We kind of brought out five new guys in the lineup,” Cruz said. “Those are all guys that we think are gonna contribute one way or another… I thought our guys did a good job of making those late adjustments and they just were composed.”
The Cardinals opened the first set by trading points with Wabash. Though the first few minutes were tight, the red and black proved they were not going to give in easily in front of the home crowd. After taking a 15-10 lead, Ball State never looked back and went on to win the set.
The next two sets were similar as Ball State and Wabash continued to give each other its best. But the Cardinals followed the same blueprint from set one, taking a late lead in both sets and using that technique to win the match.
“The ability to be level-headed in certain situations is a great ability,” Allyne said. “[You have] to do what needs to be done to win.”
Though Ball State is ranked as the No. x team in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA), Cruz believes a win to open any program’s new season is something that can kick off the right mindset. With the Cardinals wanting to advance further this season then when they finished last year in the semifinals of the MIVA Tournament, any type of momentum will be helpful.
“Our guys have been itching to play and compete and to get out here and play in front of a really good home crowd,” Cruz said. “I think the match was really exciting for our team.”
After the match, Cruz and the players all agreed that one thing they learned about the roster after their first match was the Cardinals’ ability to not give in. Senior outside hitter Tinaishe Ndavazocheva – who added five kills and two serving aces – liked the red and black’s attitude, even in moments when they trailed.
“We can turn everything around [if needed],” Ndavazocheva said. “A team that is capable of not [getting discouraged] is a team that can go a long way.”
But while Cruz and Ndavazocheva have been a part of the program for multiple seasons, one takeaway that Allyne had was the crowd. To him, it was something special.
“I love the atmosphere and I love the Muncie fans,” he said. “Everything [about volleyball] in Muncie is on a different level and I really appreciate that.”
Ball State will return to Worthen Arena Sunday, Jan. 5 as Trine comes to town. The match will begin at 1 p.m.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
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