By Alexis Williams | @Alexisss_10
Sideline Reporter for Ball State Men’s Volleyball on ESPN 3
Member of Ball State Sports Link
If you have checked the MIVA standings recently, you will find No. 12 Ball State Mens Volleyball on top. Below them by two slots is the No. 7 Loyola-Chicago.
The two teams will meet Wednesday in a match that could shake up the MIVA standings thus far.
Ball State (9-3, 3-0) is on a six-game winning streak and remain undefeated in conference play.
Loyola (8-3, 3-1) on the other hand is 3-1 in the conference. Their only loss was a sweep by Ohio State, who Ball State beat in five sets Feb. 12.
Loyola, the two-time defending NCAA National Champions, swept the Cardinals at home and on the road in the 2015 season.
Players to Watch
Junior Alex Pia was named MIVA Defensive Player of the week after the Cardinals swept both IPFW and Barton. Pia racked up 12 blocks and nine kills. He also served 24 times error free and finished with a .467 attack percentage.
Brenden Surane leads the Cardinals with 110 kills and Mike Scannell has hit double-digits kills in three straight games.
On the other side for Loyola, Nicholas Olson is third in hitting percentage (.429) and second in blocks per set (1.31) in the MIVA. While Peter Lutz leads the conference in assist-per-sets (11.00).
History
Since 1996 Ball State and Loyola have met 47 times. Loyola is only 8-14 when playing at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will look for their first win over the Ramblers since 2013.
Live Stream
Wednesday’s match vs. Loyola and Thursday’s match with Lewis will both be available with SL Digital on ballstatesports.com. John Gordon and Alex Thomas will have the call.
