After a 12-6 2020 campaign cut short by nine matches dashed hopes of a potential NCAA Tournament bid due to COVID-19, Ball State Men’s Volleyball is entering 2021 with the same aspirations it had a year ago.
Now, just over 6 miles away from her former high school, the defensive specialist/setter looks to bring her competitiveness to the Cardinals as she prepares for her first season with Ball State Women’s Volleyball.
Not only did Turner have to adjust to a new lifestyle in college while simultaneously acclimating himself to a new volleyball team, but he also had to face a long-lasting issue beyond the court as one of the only African Americans in the program.
Due to the postponement of all Mid-American Conference fall sports, Ball State Women’s Volleyball won’t return to the court until next spring at the earliest. However, last season’s MAC Championship was the beginning of a new era for the Cardinals.
On March 12, the Mid-American Conference made the announcement it would be canceling regular season, championship and non-traditional competition for the rest of the 2019-20 academic school year in concern with the coronavirus (COVID-19). Here is how Ball State athletes and coaches reacted to the announcement.
Taking advantage of their home comforts, the Cardinals defeated Sacred Heart 3-0 to begin a three-match series against non-MIVA opponents.
Don’t ask sophomore outside attacker Kaleb Jenness about a “sophomore slump.” Leading Ball State Men’s Volleyball in kills with 233 this season — 49 more than his freshman year — Jenness’ 20 Wednesday helped give the Cardinals a 3-1 victory over Ohio State.
It’s been a successful Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association road trip so far for senior outside attacker Blake Reardon. Leading Ball State Men’s Volleyball with 15 kills, the Cardinals swept Quincy Saturday, bouncing back from a four-set loss to Lindenwood Friday.
13 blocks by the Lions on the night set back Ball State Men’s Volleyball (9-6, 2-3 MIVA) as they would fall to Lindenwood (10-6, 3-2 MIVA), 3-1. Head coach Joel Walton said the team’s stint on the road has made wins a little more challenging to get.
Two names hold the significance of royalty in Delaware County.
The win was the first for the Cardinals in Chicago since 1999. However, what mattered most for the team was the victory marked head coach Joel Walton’s 400th win at Ball State.
Road trips and rivalries — two aspects of sport that do not necessarily come easy to many players. Beginning a five-match road trip against MIVA opponents, that was the case for Ball State Men’s Volleyball in a 3-1 loss to No. 14 Purdue Fort Wayne Friday.
Senior outside attacker Blake Reardon’s effort in the third and fourth sets Saturday was not enough to get the job done for Ball State Men’s Volleyball. Dropping their first match at Worthen Arena this season, the Cardinals’ five-match win streak came to an end against No. 6 Lewis in a 3-1 loss.
Junior setter Quinn Isaacson has spent his entire life surrounded by sports. Playing volleyball in high school, in addition to having parents as coaches, Isaacson knew his transition to Ball State as a freshman would be smooth.
Public-address announcer Steve Shondell continuously used his nickname of sophomore outside attacker Kaleb Jenness Thursday night in Worthen Arena. With a team-leading 21 kills, Jenness led Ball State Men’s Volleyball to a 3-1 victory over McKendree in its Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association opener.
Ball State Men’s Volleyball took a three-set sweep of Daemen Saturday, but final results are not always indicative of how closely a match was played.
Playing against a first-year team has its advantages. Coming off a six-match road trip against three ranked opponents, Ball State Men’s Volleyball used them in its 3-0 win over Urbana Thursday.
It was a road trip with mixed results for Ball State Men’s Volleyball. However, the Cardinals ended their six-match journey away from Worthen Arena on a high note Saturday with a 3-0 win over Saint Francis.
The old saying “practice makes perfect” paid off for Ball State Men’s Volleyball Friday. Coming off three consecutive losses, the Cardinals upset No. 7 Penn State in their fifth consecutive road contest.
Prior to Saturday, Ball State Men’s Volleyball had never been on the short end of the stick against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. However, the Cardinals’ 10-match win streak against NJIT ended Saturday, as the Highlanders were victorious, 3-0.
