# 2023 Ball State Cardinals men's volleyball team

The 2023 Ball State Cardinals men's volleyball team represented Ball State University in the 2023 NCAA Division I & II men's volleyball season. The Cardinals, led by 2nd year head coach Donan Cruz, played their home games at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals were members of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and were picked to finish first in the MIVA preseason poll.

## Schedule

| Date Time | Opponent | Rank | Arena City (Tournament) | Television | Score | Attendance | Record (MIVA Record) |
| 1/12 7 p.m. | @ #1 Hawai'i | #6 | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI | ESPN+ | L 1–3 (16–25, 23–25, 25–22, 17–25) | 5,581 | 0–1 |
| 1/13 12 a.m. | @ #1 Hawai'i | #6 | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI | ESPN+ | L 1–3 (25–23, 23–25, 18–25, 18–25) | 6,646 | 0-2 |
| 1/20 7 p.m. | Harvard | #6 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-0 (25–16, 25–18, 25–14) | 2,151 | 1-2 |
| 1/21 7 p.m. | Tusculum | #6 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | Ball State All-Access | W 3-2 (25–21, 25–22, 22–25, 24-26, 15-7) | 1,237 | 2-2 |
| 1/27 7 p.m. | Queens | #8 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-0 (25–15, 25–15, 25-15) | 1,562 | 3-2 |
| 1/28 5 p.m. | Sacred Heart | #8 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | Ball State All-Access | W 3-0 (25–11, 25–16, 25-21) | 1,371 | 4-2 |
| 2/02 7 p.m. | #11 BYU | #8 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN3 | L 1-3 (26-24, 23–25, 21-25, 25-27) | 1,567 | 4-3 |
| 2/04 3 p.m. | #11 BYU | #8 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN3 | W 3-1' (24-26, 25–23, 25-19, 25-23) | 1,711 | 5-3 |
| 2/09 7 p.m. | Lewis* | #9 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | L 2-3 (22-25, 25–19, 23–25, 25-20, 16-18) | 1,100 | 5-4 (0-1) |
| 2/11 5 p.m. | McKendree* | #9 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20) | 1,242 | 6-4 (1-1) |
| 2/16 8 p.m. | @ #13 Loyola Chicago* | #11 | Joseph J. Gentile Arena Chicago, IL | ESPN+ | L 1-3 (25-23, 21-25, 21-25, 22-25) | 667 | 6-5 (1-2) |
| 2/18 7 p.m. | @ Purdue Fort Wayne* | #11 | Hilliard Gates Sports Center Ft. Wayne, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 19-25, 15-8) | 918 | 7-5 (2-2) |
| 2/24 8 p.m. | @ Lindenwood* | #12 | Robert F. Hyland Arena St. Charles, MO | ESPN+ | W 3-2 (14-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-8) | 312 | 8-5 (3-2) |
| 2/25 6 p.m. | @ Quincy* | #12 | Pepsi Arena Quincy, IL | GLVC SN | W 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-22) | 563 | 9-5 (4-2) |
| 3/01 6 p.m. | Central State | #12 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-19) | 423 | 10-5 |
| 3/03 10 p.m. | @ #4 Long Beach State | #12 | Walter Pyramid Long Beach, CA | ESPN+ | L 1-3 (19-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-25) | 1,318 | 10-6 |
| 3/05 8 p.m. | @ UC San Diego | #12 | LionTree Arena La Jolla, CA | ESPN+ | W 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12) | 301 | 11-6 |
| 3/08 10 p.m. | @ #5 Grand Canyon | #11 | GCU Arena Phoenix, AZ | ESPN+ | L 0-3 (24-26, 23-25, 19-25) | 545 | 11-7 |
| 3/15 7 p.m. | #15 Ohio State* | #12 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-20) | 1,350 | 12-7 (5-2) |
| 3/18 7 p.m. | @ #15 Ohio State* | #12 | Covelli Center Columbus, OH | B1G+ | L 2-3 (25-23, 26-24, 18-25, 24-26, 12-15) | 965 | 12-8 (5-3) |
| 3/24 7 p.m. | Quincy* | #12 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-1 (25-13, 20-25, 25-19, 25-21) | 957 | 13-8 (6-3) |
| 3/25 6 p.m. | Lindenwood* | #12 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-17) | 981 | 14-8 (7-3) |
| 3/30 8 p.m. | @ McKendree* | #12 | Melvin Price Convocation Center Lebanon, IL | GLVC SN | W 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-20) | 100 | 15-8 (8-3) |
| 4/01 6 p.m. | @ Lewis* | #12 | Neil Carey Arena Romeoville, IL | GLVC SN | W 3-2 (25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 17-25, 15-12) | 750 | 16-8 (9-3) |
| 4/06 7 p.m. | #10 Loyola Chicago | #11 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 27-25) | 1,124 | 17-8 (10-3) |
| 4/08 7 p.m. | Purdue Fort Wayne | #11 | Worthen Arena Muncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) | 1,211 | 18-8 (11-3) |
| 4/15 6 p.m. | Quincy $^{(8)}$ | #10 $^{(1)}$ | Worthen Arena (MIVA Quarterfinals) | ESPN+ | W 3–0 (25–20, 25-19, 25-15) | 757 | 19-8 (12-3) |
| 4/19 7 p.m. | Lewis $^{(4)}$ | #10 $^{(1)}$ | Worthen Arena (MIVA Semifinals) | ESPN+ | W 3–0 (25–21, 25-21, 25-18) | 1,456 | 20-8 (13-3) |
    *-Indicates conference match.
    Times listed are Eastern Time Zone.

## Broadcasters

* Hawai'i: Kanoa Leahey, Chris McLachlin, & Ryan Tsuji
* Hawai'i: Kanoa Leahey, Chris McLachlin, & Ryan Tsuji
* Harvard: Joey Lindstrom, Amber Seaman, & Madison Surface
* Tusculum: No commentary
* Queens:
* Sacred Heart: No commentary
* BYU: Lexi Eblen & Hudson French
* BYU: Mick Tidrow, Amber Seaman, & Madison Surface
* Lewis:
* McKendree:
* Loyola Chicago:
* Purdue Fort Wayne:
* Lindenwood:
* Quincy:
* Central State:
* Long Beach State:
* UC San Diego:
* Grand Canyon:
* Ohio State:
* Ohio State:
* Quincy:
* Lindenwood:
* McKendree:
* Lewis:
* Loyola Chicago:
* Purdue Fort Wayne:

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AVCA Coaches | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Off the Block Media | Not released | Not released | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | RV | RV | RV | RV | | | RV | 8 | 8 | | 9 |
^The Media did not release a pre-season poll.

## Honors

To be filled in upon competition of the season.