As the regular season is coming to an end, it is crunch time for the Ball State men’s volleyball squad, as they are fighting for that number one spot in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA).
The Cardinals had two important conference games this weekend, as they dropped game one to Quincy 3-2 (25-13, 20-25, 25-16, 21-25, 8-15) and won game two against number ten ranked McKendree 3-1 (25-13, 24-26, 25-23, 25-23).
Game One:
In a battle between two teams on the opposite ends of the standings, the Quincy Hawks paid the Ball State Cardinals a visit for a Friday evening match. The Hawks came into this game last in the conference, while the Cardinals were eying the number one spot.
In the first set, the Cardinals came out firing. They took full control with a 10-3 lead in the set. The “X-factor” in the set was junior outside hitter Ryan Bartz, who subbed into the game and recorded three kills, putting the nail in the coffin to give the Cardinals a set one victory.
Leading into the second set, Quincy was much more competitive. In the midway part of the set, Ball State picked up momentum and gained a 12-8 lead, but Quincy was quick to respond. The Hawks went on a 6-0 run to take a commanding lead in the set, and eventually evened up the score, winning set two.
Sets three and four were similar for both teams, as the Cardinals took set three handedly, and the Hawks did the same in set four to force a fifth set. This was Ball State’s ninth five-set match, an area where they have struggled all season.
In the fifth set, it was all Quincy. Even though they came in with the lesser team on paper, they dominated the fifth set to get revenge on the Cardinals. Ball State head coach Donan Cruz talked about how the team has to be ready every single game.
“In those moments, you have to be ready to play whatever comes your way when you play elite volleyball.”
Game Two:
Coming off a disappointing home loss, Ball State was hungry to get back into the win column. The Cardinals welcomed a familiar foe into Worthen Arena: the tenth-ranked McKendree Bearcats. This game was important for the Cardinals, as they are chasing the Bearcats in the MIVA standings.
Not only was it an important game for the standings, but it was also Senior Day, and the Cardinals wanted to celebrate their seniors with a win.
Going into the opening set, everyone could tell the Cardinals were playing with anger from their last loss. They dominated the first portion of the set, taking a 10-3 lead over the Bearcats. From that point on, the red and white controlled the set, and went on to take a swift set one victory.
The set was capped off by a kill by junior outside hitter Patrick Rogers, who finished the game with twenty kills. Rogers spoke about his performance.
“I had a lot of support from my teammates,” Rogers said. “Peter [Zurawski] was setting really well and things were flowing great.”
Leading into the second set, the Cardinals kept up the momentum that they had in the opening set. The Bearcats had no answers for them, and the Cardinals took a 17-14 lead, looking like they were on the way to a 2-0 lead. But the Bearcats came battling back, and they flipped the switch on the set to take a set two win, evening the score.
It felt as if momentum was switching to McKendree in the third set, as they were looking to take a lead in the match. That momentum did not last long for the Bearcats, as senior outside hitter Tinaishe Ndavazocheva and Rogers took over the set, leading to a victory for the Cardinals.
Ndavazocheva finished the set by recording a kill, and he talked about how big that point was to shift momentum.
“Getting that point just boosted everyone’s momentum,” Ndavazocheva said. “It showed us that we have the capability of not just winning, but dominating that team [McKendree].”
Having a 2-1 lead, Ball State was looking to cap off senior day in a positive way. The Bearcats controlled most of the set, but with the help of Ndavazocheva and Rogers, the Cardinals rallied late in the set to win. The star duo combined for four kills to end the game, proving why they are amongst the best players in the country.
Cruz had a lot to love about the team’s performance today, and he spoke on the effort that the guys were giving.
“The effort was there 100% of the time,” Cruz said. “Even when we were in bad situations we really had to lock in and focus. We never wavered.”
It was an emotional senior day for players like Ndavazocheva, but Rogers was emotional knowing he only has a few more games with his senior teammates.
“They are a huge part of the leadership on this team, and they are all of our best friends,” Rogers said. “It was definitely emotional. The waterworks came after the game for sure.”
Even though senior day is a reminder to Cruz that a lot of talent is leaving, he is hopeful for the young talent that the Cardinals have to offer.
“We feel great about the future of our volleyball program,” Cruz said. “Some of them are already here, and some of them will arrive on campus in August. It is always about putting ourselves in a position where we can develop really physical and talented athletes.”
Ball State will be back in action on Thursday, April 3rd at Ohio State University at 7 p.m.
Contact Kyle Stout via email @kyle.stout@bsu.edu or via X @kylestoutdailyn
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