'Dons Drop Five-Set MIVA Battle at No. 8 Ball State

Thursday, February 6

Muncie, Ind.

7 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

5-3,0-1MIVA

Ball State

8-3,1-0MIVA

Purdue Fort Wayne

Ball St.

Andrew Mayer, Kaden Fosdick, Axel Melendez Watts, Casey Lyons, JP Candrian

Photo by: Tristen Bronaugh

'Dons Drop Five-Set MIVA Battle at No. 8 Ball State

2/6/2025 9:59:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball team opened Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association play on Thursday (Feb. 6) evening with a 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13) loss at Ball State.

The Mastodons began to build their momentum in the third set, tied 1-1 with the Cardinals. Being the most contested set of the match, neither side held larger than a three point lead. The 'Dons owned a three point advantage at the media break, with a 3-0 run to create the gap. Purdue Fort Wayne held the lead for the remainder of the set, withstanding a Ball State 3-0 push that closed the set to 20-19. The 'Dons closed out the set when Caleb Lipscomb put away a free ball. Axel Melendez Watts had seven kills in the set and the Mastodons finished the set with a .538 hitting percentage.

Ball State took control of the fourth set early and didn't let off the gas, resulting in a 25-20 win to send the match to a fifth. The Cardinals put together two separate 5-0 runs during the fourth set and held a nine point lead at 22-13. The Mastodons were able to battle back into the set following a 4-0 run, cutting the lead to 22-17. Logan Muir had seven of the 13 Purdue Fort Wayne kills in the set.

After four total service errors in the fifth set, the teams found themselves locked at 8-8. Ball State's Patrick Rodgers put together two kills in a crucial 4-0 run to take a 12-9 lead. The 'Dons were able to bring the score to 14-13, but a final Rodgers kill put an end to the nearly three hour match.

The first set served as a warm-up for each side, with neither team hitting over .150 in the set. The Cardinals held the largest lead of the set at 21-17. Purdue Fort Wayne strung together a 6-3 push to close the gap to 24-23, but couldn't complete the comeback. Ball State threatened to take a set 2-0 lead early in the second, climbing to a 11-6 advantage after a 7-2 run. The 'Dons cut into that lead slowly, eventually taking over at 21-20. Muir put away two kills in the final stretch, including the set winning kill. Kaden Fosdick had five kills in the set.

Ball State's Rodgers (19) and Tinaishe Ndavazocheva (18) led the match in kills.

Three Mastodons ended with double-digit kills: Muir (17), Melendez Watts (16) and Fosdick (12). Muir also added four aces and eight digs. Andrej Polomac had 48 assists for the 'Dons, to go along with six digs.

Ball State held a .362 to .283 hitting advantage in the match, but the 'Dons led 9-7 in aces and 30-27 in digs.

Purdue Fort Wayne drops to 5-3, 0-1 in MIVA play. Ball State moves to 7-3, 1-0 in the MIVA. The Mastodons will host No. 14 Ohio State in the Gates Sports Center on Monday (Feb. 10).

~ Feel the Rumble ~