Next game:
Quincy University
03/24/2023 | 7 p.m.
March 24 (Friday) / 7 p.m.
Quincy University
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Cardinals knew tonight’s road competition wasn’t going to be easy against their oldest rival, Ohio State. So it’s no surprise that these two rivals lead the game to a fifth set after 41 draws and 11 lead changes.
Although the win column could have gone either way, unfortunately for the Cardinals (12-8, 5-3 MIVA), it was the Buckeyes (12-9, 5-3 MIVA) who would emerge victorious in the extra period. by winning the fifth set 15-12.
Ohio State indeed hit better than Ball State tonight, totaling 67 takedowns on 133 swings for a .361 hitting percentage. The Cardinals, on the other hand, hit .230 from the floor.
For the game, the Cardinals were led by Kaleb Jenness with 16 kills while Tinaishe Ndavazocheva registered 14 kills.
It was a tightly contested first set that went point for point with several ties and lead changes. The Cardinals took a 24-23 lead after Buckeyes Samuel Clark’s service error. Ndavazocheva would clinch the set point with a kill to give BSU the 25-23 win.
The second frame mimicked the first set as it was a battle until late in the. frame. Cardinals’ Vanis Buckholz would put the exclamation point on the board with a nice kill down the middle to push Ball State up 2-0 in the game.
Ohio State began to make their comeback taking sets three and four to send the game into extra time.
The fifth set was tied nine times with two lead changes. Ohio State was able to come back 12-10 late in the fifth period and Ball State never recovered. The Buckeyes would then use that momentum to win the game.
Ball State’s men’s volleyball team continues MIVA action when they host Quincy on Friday at 7 p.m. ET at Worthen Arena.
