In a match that featured a season-worst 51 combined serving errors, it was two good serves that made the difference.
With the score 6-3 in game five, setter Ethan Pheister had a two consecutive aces to give the Ball State University men's volleyball team a five-point lead against No. 14 Loyola University.
Following the aces, Ball State would lead by at least four points the rest of the game as the Cardinals defeated the Ramblers 29-31, 30-27, 25-30, 15-7 on Saturday at Worthen Arena.
"I was just trying to go in and rip it. I can't come in scared" Pheister said. "I just had to tell myself not to come in scared, and I had to put the ball in."
Pheister finished the match tying a career-high five aces. The all-conference setter also had a match-high seven serving errors.
Ball State overall had a season-high 25 serving errors. It was also the second most serving errors the Cardinals had in a match since the 2006 season.
Loyola had 26 serving errors, including 10 in the first game.
Coach Joel Walton said he could not recall a match with more than 50 serving errors, but he said he is sure it has happened.
"I feel bad for the crowd. That's really ugly volleyball to watch," Walton said. "You don't get to see what the game is named after and that's volleys. It's disappointing how we served."
Ball State out-hit Loyola .226 to .121. Loyola also had three games in the match when it had a less than .100 attack percentage.
With the Ramblers' offense struggling throughout the match, Walton said his team's serving was a big reason why the match went five games.
"We let them out of having to get points," he said.
In the fifth game, Ball State had a match-high .538 attack percentage and no attack errors.
Outside attacker Todd Chamberlain said because the final game was to 15 points instead of 30 points Ball State was more focused from the start of the game.
Chamberlain finished the match with a team-high 10 kills, including two kills in the final game.
"You realize there is a sense of urgency," Chamberlain said. "You can get away with just playing a little bit in a long game, but in that fifth game you have to come out and put it on them the entire time. If not it's over."
With this win, Ball State extends its winning streak to six matches. It was also the 200th career win for Walton, who is in his 11th season as the Cardinals' head coach.
Ball State is the only team in the MIVA to remain undefeated in conference play. The Cardinals have a half-match lead on second-place Ohio State University, which lost to No. 10 Lewis University on Saturday for its first MIVA loss.
Having seven matches left in its conference season, Chamberlain said Ball State is the favorite to win the MIVA regular season title.
"We've played everyone so far and we've beaten everybody in preseason and in season," he said. "If anyone on our team or in our conference thinks we can't win it then I think they are crazy. I think they are wrong."
For more men's volleyball coverage and a look at Walton's 200th-win milestone, read Monday's issue of The Ball State Daily News.
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