Ball State Cardinals
men's volleyball
Founded1964
UniversityBall State University
Athletic directorJeff Mitchell
Head coachDonan Cruz (2nd season)
ConferenceMIVA
LocationMuncie, Indiana
Home arenaWorthen Arena (capacity: 11,500)
NicknameCardinals
ColorsCardinal and White
   
AIAW/NCAA Tournament semifinal
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2022
AIAW/NCAA Tournament appearance
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2022
Conference tournament champion
1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2022
Conference regular season champion
1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2022, 2023

The Ball State Cardinals men's volleyball team is one of the 18 varsity teams at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. The team is coached by Donan Cruz, who is in his second season as head coach, and only the third head coach since the team's founding in 1964.

The Cardinals are a charter member of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA), which they have been competing in since the varsity program's inception in 1964.[1] The team has won 22 regular season MIVA titles and 15 tournament titles. They are the fourth-winningest collegiate men's volleyball program, and second by total wins, with an overall record of 1242-527 (.701) over 59 seasons.[2] They currently host their home matches at Worthen Arena on the Ball State campus.

Arena

The Cardinals play their home matches at Worthen Arena on campus. They began playing at the arena in 1992, after having spent more than 28 seasons at Irving Gymnasium. Worthen Arena played host to the 1992 NCAA men's volleyball tournament. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Cardinals are 284-93 (.753) while playing at Worthen Arena.[3]

Coaching History

Since the team's founding in 1964, the men's volleyball program has had only three head coaches. Dr. Don Shondell was the founder and first head coach of the men's volleyball program. Dr. Shondell was also one of the founders of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, which is the conference that the Cardinals have competed in since their founding.[1]

Dr. Shondell was the head coach of the men's volleyball program for 34 years and amassed a record of 769-280-6 (.732). Dr. Shondell is the second-winningest coach in NCAA Division I men's volleyball history, behind former UCLA head coach Al Scates.[4] In 1996, Dr. Shondell was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[5]

In 1998, Dr. Shondell retired as head coach of the men's volleyball program and was replaced by then-assistant coach Joel Walton. Over 23 seasons as head coach, Walton amassed a record of 413-258 (.636), ranking him the twelfth winningest coach in NCAA Division I men's volleyball history. Walton remained the head coach of the men's volleyball program for 23 seasons until his retirement in 2021.[6]

In June 2021, Donan Cruz was named as the third head coach in program history. In Cruz's first year as head coach, he led the Cardinals to their first MIVA regular season championship, conference tournament championship, and NCAA Tournament berth since 2002. In his second season, the Cardinals again were regular season champions but fell to Ohio State in the MIVA tournament championship match.

References

  1. 1 2 "MIVA History and Timeline". mivavolleyball.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  2. ↑ "National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Record" (PDF). ncaa.org. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Media Guide" (PDF). Ball State University Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Former USAV President Dr. Donald Shondell Dies at 92". USA Volleyball. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ Volleyball Hall of Fame
  6. ↑ "MVB's Joel Walton Announces Retirement; 23rd Season To Be His Last". Ball State University Athletics. June 13, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
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