Saturday, April 8
Muncie, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
16-12,7-7MIVA
0
at
3
Ball State
18-8,11-3MIVA
1
2
3
F
Purdue Fort Wayne
17
17
22
0
Ball St.
25
25
25
3
Mastodons Earn No. 5 Seed for MIVA Tournament
4/8/2023 9:39:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball team fell to the No. 11 Ball State Cardinals on Saturday night (April 8) in the final regular season match of the 2023 season. The Mastodons fell 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22).
With the regular season at its end, the Mastodons now turn their attention to the MIVA Tournament. The Mastodons finished the regular season in a tie for fourth with Lewis and Lindenwood at 7-7 in the MIVA, but will have the No. 5 seed in the tournament after the tiebreakers. They will face the Lewis Flyers on the road on Saturday, April 15 at 8 p.m. ET.
They are not strangers to recent success in the tournament, as the 'Dons went to the championship match as the No. 6 seed a year ago.
The home team on Saturday night used a 6-1 run midway through the first set to take control. The Mastodons cut the lead to five at 22-17 with a kill from Mark Frazier, but BSU closed the set on a 3-0 run.
The second set was heavily in favor of Ball State by the midway point, as the Cardinals went up 16-9. The Mastodons hit better in the second, but still only got up to .172.
In set three, the 'Dons were neck-and-neck with the Cardinals at the 20-point mark. This came after a 5-1 run from Purdue Fort Wayne with a kill Jon Diedrich and two from Frazier. From there, however, the Cardinals rattled off five of the last seven points. Purdue Fort Wayne hit a match-best .423 in the third.
Ball State won the service game, leading in aces 5-1.
Ryan Steponaitis was a bright spot for the 'Dons, registering five kills with a .625 hitting percentage and three blocks.
Purdue Fort Wayne finishes the 2023 regular season 16-12. It is the Mastodons' 27th winning season in program history. Ball State claimed a share of the regular season championship and the No. 1 seed for the tournament with the win. The Cardinals improve to 18-8, 11-3 MIVA.
With the regular season at its end, the Mastodons now turn their attention to the MIVA Tournament. The Mastodons finished the regular season in a tie for fourth with Lewis and Lindenwood at 7-7 in the MIVA, but will have the No. 5 seed in the tournament after the tiebreakers. They will face the Lewis Flyers on the road on Saturday, April 15 at 8 p.m. ET.
They are not strangers to recent success in the tournament, as the 'Dons went to the championship match as the No. 6 seed a year ago.
The home team on Saturday night used a 6-1 run midway through the first set to take control. The Mastodons cut the lead to five at 22-17 with a kill from Mark Frazier, but BSU closed the set on a 3-0 run.
The second set was heavily in favor of Ball State by the midway point, as the Cardinals went up 16-9. The Mastodons hit better in the second, but still only got up to .172.
In set three, the 'Dons were neck-and-neck with the Cardinals at the 20-point mark. This came after a 5-1 run from Purdue Fort Wayne with a kill Jon Diedrich and two from Frazier. From there, however, the Cardinals rattled off five of the last seven points. Purdue Fort Wayne hit a match-best .423 in the third.
Ball State won the service game, leading in aces 5-1.
Ryan Steponaitis was a bright spot for the 'Dons, registering five kills with a .625 hitting percentage and three blocks.
Purdue Fort Wayne finishes the 2023 regular season 16-12. It is the Mastodons' 27th winning season in program history. Ball State claimed a share of the regular season championship and the No. 1 seed for the tournament with the win. The Cardinals improve to 18-8, 11-3 MIVA.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Team Stats
Pur-FW
BSU
Kills
36
43
Errors
15
11
Attempts
86
84
Hitting %
.244
.381
Points
42.5
57.5
Assists
33
36
Aces
1
5
Blocks
5.5
9.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH/OPP
/ Men's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Men's VolleyballMB
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