Source: ballstatesports.com
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – – Trailing 14-12 in the fifth set, the Ball State men’s volleyball team was the benefit of a crucial Pepperdine service error which sent senior Patrick Rogers to the service line.
The semifinalist for the 2026 AVCA National Collegiate Men’s Player of the Year did not disappoint. His first serve helped the Cardinals (26-4) even the score with a monster triple block.
His second serve landed in between the Waves (24-7) defense for his third service ace of the night. His third and final serve of the rally blasted off a Pepperdine defender and sent the crowd of 1,252 fans at Riverview Health Arena into a frenzy.
It also sealed a hard-fought 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 16-14) victory to send the Cardinals to the semifinal round of the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship on May 9 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.
The Cardinals earn its first NCAA Tournament win since 1995, topping the third-place match against Hawai’i, and reach the national semifinal for the second time in five years — the 17th appearance in program history.
With the win over the Waves, Ball State ties the all-time series in NCAA Tournament play, avenging a straight-set loss back in 2002.
Along with his match-high four service aces, Rogers blasted 15 kills and tied for match-high honors with nine digs. Libero Victor Scherer and outside Wil Basilio matched with nine digs each.
Ball State tied its season-high total in blocks with 17.5, led by Will Patterson who had a career night with 11 in the contest along with a career-best 12 kills on .667 hitting. Basilio also saw a career high at the net, tallying six blocks.
Ryan Louis struck down a team-best 16 kills on a .324 clip, accompanied by five total blocks, his fifth match this season with five or more.
The Cardinals out-hit Pepperdine .327-.297, guided by floor general Lucas Machado who had 52 assists, just two shy of matching his career best. Machado was also a contributing defensive pressure, totaling seven blocks with six digs.
With seven days to prepare for Los Angeles, Ball State will matchup against UC Irvine in the semifinal, with start time to be announced.
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