| Ball State Cardinals men's volleyball | |
| Founded: | 1964 |
| University: | Ball State University |
| Athletic Director: | Jeff Mitchell |
| Coach: | Donan Cruz |
| Tenure: | 2nd |
| Conference: | Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association |
| Conference Short: | MIVA |
| City: | Muncie |
| State: | Indiana |
| Stateabb: | IN |
| Arena: | Worthen Arena |
| Capacity: | 11,500 |
| Nickname: | Cardinals |
| Color1: | Cardinal |
| Color2: | White |
| Hex1: | BA0C2F |
| Hex2: | FFFFFF |
| Ncaafinalfour: | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2022 |
| Ncaatourneys: | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2022 |
| Conference Tournament: | 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2022 |
| Conference Season: | 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 third 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.
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. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Cardinals hold a 284-93 (.753) in Worthen Arena.[3]
Worthen Arena played host to the 1992 NCAA men's volleyball tournament.
Since the team's founding in 1964, the men's volleyball program has had only three head coaches. Dr. Don Shondell founded the men's volleyball program and served as its first head coach. Dr. Shondell was also one of the founders of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. The Cardinals have competed in the conference since its 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 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 were again the regular season champions but fell to Ohio State in the MIVA tournament championship match.