“Our best volleyball is [the] other team’s worst nightmare.”

That’s what fifth-year middle blocker Felix Egharevba said coaches told Ball State Men’s Volleyball earlier in the week.

While the Cardinals (13-8, 6-3 MIVA) may not have played their best volleyball Friday, they played well enough to earn a four set (25-13, 20-25, 25-19, 25-21) victory over Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) rival Quincy (7-14, 0-9 MIVA). 

In the opening first set, Ball State’s frontline put the clamps on the Hawks holding them to only 10 kills on only 31 total attacks and Quincy wound up with a .0065 hitting percentage through that first set.

The Hawks bounced back easily and took the second set. The Cardinals almost committed more errors in the second set (six) than they did for the other sets combined (seven). 

“In tight sets we need to get together more and communicate,” Egharevba said. “Communication was key in this game.”

Despite the third set going back-and-forth, Ball State found its footing late and were able to get to 25 points before Quincy and went up 2-1 going into the fourth set. 

“In set three, I thought we made that run at 17 [points] or something like that, we just need to stabilize passing a little more,” head coach Donan Cruz said. “I thought we did that and then in set four, same thing, they were with us until 15 [points] and [fifth-year outside attacker] Kaleb [Jenness] stepped up and he scored like four pretty important points, that without you’re in a different place.”

Jenness stepped up throughout the entire match, with his team-high 16 kills and three blocks. Not to be forgotten are fourth-year outside hitter Bryce Behrendt with 12 kills, seven digs and three assists and Egharevba with 10 kills and seven blocks.

Cruz acknowledged the Hawks’ play but mentioned that the team does not just roll over when a team plays well, they keep playing their game and do not stop for anyone.

Next up for the Cardinals is another MIVA match Saturday evening as they collide with Lindenwood (9-8, 6-3 MIVA) at 6 p.m.

“We need energy and composure,” Egharevba said. “I mean…we’re on a run right now and sometimes when we get in these deficits we still come together but not as much so we just need to focus on that.”

Contact Corbin Hubert with comments at cchubert@bsu.edu or on Twitter @corbin_hubert_

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