Men’s Volleyball Set To Host Ohio State Saturday Night In MIVA Quarterfinals

On Apr 9, 2021

No. 4 seed Ball State (11-7, 8-5 MIVA) vs. No. 5 seed Ohio State (9-9, 8-6 MIVA)

Saturday, April 10, 7 p.m. ET | Worthen Arena

Last meeting: March 13, 2021 | Ball State won 3-2

Series History: Ball State leads the series 108-100-1

HOW WE GOT HERE: In the Cardinals last MIVA regular season weekend series, Felix Egharevba led Ball State to a split with 10th-ranked McKendree. Saturday’s five-set victory over the Bearcats allowed the Cardinals clinch a home match for the 2021 MIVA Tournament quarterfinal round, which will be played at 7 p.m. on April 10 against fifth-seeded Ohio State. In the thrilling 3-2 victory at No. 10 McKendree last Saturday, Egharevba dominated play at the net with a Ball State men’s volleyball rally scoring era (2001-2021) record 16 total blocks. His 14 block assists were also a BSU rally scoring era record, while he secured a pair of solo blocks. In all, the Cardinals tallied 24.0 blocks as a team, which is the second-best effort in a match in the rally scoring era, trailing only the team’s 25.5 blocks at George Mason (Feb. 8, 2008). In addition to his effort at the net, Egharevba added seven kills and hit .385 in Saturday’s win. One night earlier, he smashed nine kills, hit .533 and recorded three total blocks against the Bearcats. Egharevba also earned MIVA Defensive Player of the Week honors.

FOUR CARDINALS EARN ALL-MIVA HONORS: he Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association announced the members of the 2021 All-MIVA First and Second teams Friday morning. Ball State senior setter Quinn Isaacson and junior outside hitter Kaleb Jenness were tabbed to the All-MIVA First Team, while junior middle attacker Felix Egharevba and graduate senior outside hitter Blake Reardon were both selected to the All-MIVA Second Team. This is the first time Isaacson has earned All-MIVA First Team accolades, as he was a second-team honoree in 2020.

SCOUTING OHIO STATE: The Cardinals longest men’s volleyball rival to date comes to Worthen Arena Saturday for the second time this season. Ohio State comes to Muncie with a 9-9 overall record and were tabbed the fifth seed for tonight’s MIVA Tournament quarterfinals. Ball State and Ohio State split the series this season against one another both in five sets on Feb. 27 and March 13. Ball State won the last meeting which was in Columbus, Ohio on March 13.

THE END OF AN ERA: One of the winningest coaches in NCAA men’s volleyball history will lead Ball State’s program for one more season. Head coach Joel Walton announced he will retire following the completion of the 2021 season. A two-time Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Coach of the Year, Walton enters his 23rd and final season at the helm of the Cardinals ranked fourth among active NCAA men’s volleyball head coaches (Divisions I, II or III) with 410 career wins, owning an overall record of 414-237 (.637).

MIVA TOURNAMENT TIME: The MIVA Tournament begins this week and will be followed by the semifinals on April 17. The championship match will be played on April 24. All eight teams qualified this year. The higher seed of each matchup will host. The Cardinals haven’t won a quarterfinal match since April 15, 2017 which was against Loyola in Worthen Arena. BSU won that match 3-1.

Quarterfinals – Saturday, April 10

Game 1: No. 8 Quincy at No. 1 Lewis

Game 2: No. 7 Lindenwood at No. 2 Loyola Chicago

Game 3: No. 6 Purdue Fort Wayne at No. 3 McKendree

Game 4: No. 5 Ohio State at No. 4 Ball State

Semifinals – Saturday, April 17

Game 5: Winners of games 1 & 4 (at higher seed)

Game 6: Winners of games 2 & 3 (at higher seed)

Final – Saturday, April 24

Game 7: Winners of games 5 & 6 (at higher seed)