In a clash of two top-ten teams, the #5 Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars visited Worthen Arena to take on the #6 Ball State Cardinals. The Cardinals started a two-game non-conference series tonight against the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) squad. The Cardinals fell to the Cougars 2-3 (25-23, 27-25, 15-25, 19-25, 12-15).
Heading into this game, the red and white were coming off of a series split against another top-15 opponent in Stanford. BYU on the other hand, is coming off of a sweep against No.11 Ohio State, to improve to 4-0 on its impressive 2025 campaign.
The Cardinals knew it was going to be a tough task welcoming a top-five team this early on in the season, but the mindset was clear to head coach Donan Cruz.
“We knew we were going to get a battle and we knew it was going to be good,” Cruz said.
Even before the game, the electricity of the crowd was living up to the hype of the game. Worthen was the most packed that it's been all season for the marquee matchup. Junior outside hitter Patrick Rogers loved the atmosphere.
“The atmosphere was huge and it was so important for how we played,” he said.
Starting the first set, it was back-and-forth with neither team getting any cushion. With the set knotted up at 10-10, the Cougars went on a run, stringing together kills to take a 16-11 lead. That did not stop the Cardinals from fighting back, and they tied up the set 16-16. It was close until the very end, but leadership from senior opposite Raje Alleyne – who had five first-set kills – led the Cardinals to a set one victory.
Alleyne spoke on the importance of battling back to take that first set and getting the crowd involved.
“It was very important,” he said. “The crowd is a big aspect of us doing well, and it brings up the energy and playing level as well.”
Set two started just how set one ended, with the two teams battling. The set was tied up 20-20, and the Ball State faithful were as alive as they have ever been. The Cardinals rode the energy of the crowd once again and took the second set.
The red and white showed their resilience in two close sets, and Alleyne gives credit to the fans.
“The crowd was ecstatic, it made everything out there a lot easier, and just overall more fun,” Alleyne said.
As set three began, so did the anticipation of Worthen Arena, with the fans and players eying the finish line of a top-five win. In this set, BYU was not going to go out easy, as they took control early and took the third set to stay alive.
The start to the fourth set was all BYU, and they kept a comfortable five-point lead the entire set. Multiple errors on the Cardinals were costly, as they dropped an important fourth set and headed into a do-or-die fifth set all tied up.
Entering the fifth set, tensions were rising in Worthen and everyone was on the edge of their seats. With every point the Cardinals scored, the crowd erupted. At every point that the Cougars scored, the crowd was silent. The set was tight, but due to three late service errors by the Cardinals, BYU was able to complete the comeback and win the match.
Although the Cardinals held an early 2-0 lead, they allowed BYU back into it and it proved costly for the home team. Cruz knows what his team struggled with late, and knows it will help them for tomorrow’s match.
“They played better defense and we struggled to score [after the first two sets],” Cruz said. “We had to pull some of our best arms off the court because we just weren’t transitioning and scoring points.”
Even amid the loss, Rogers is excited to get back at it tomorrow night.
“The best part about this is that we get another chance tomorrow," Rogers said. “That is what we are looking at and it is the most important thing. We were so close so it will definitely be good to play tomorrow.”
Ball State will take on BYU once again tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
Contact Kyle Stout via email at kyle.stout@bsu.eduor via X @kylestoutdailyn
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