MUNCIE, Ind. — Over the weekend, Ball State Men’s Volleyball player, Patrick Rogers, had the opportunity to compete in the NORCECA Men’s National Volleyball Championship in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Rogers scored 10 points on 10 kills with the match-winning kill in the final set against the home team. With the win, the U.S. Men's National Volleyball team now has their third consecutive win and a gold medal under their belts.
Rogers explained how fun it was playing against the home team not once but twice.
“The highlight of the tournament was for sure winning gold, it was awesome. It couldn’t have been more fun when we were playing Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico…the whole crowd was rooting against us,” Rogers explained.
Going into the tournament, Rogers and his team had only one practice and practically no team chemistry. Despite only knowing a few of his teammates from previous teams they had been on together, only having one practice together added some challenges.
Along with winning gold, Rogers had also won the M.V.P. award.
“I wasn’t expecting that at all. I just got to go in there to pick up as much as I can and learn from the coaches, being such high [people] in volleyball,” Rogers explained. “The MVP was the cherry on top for sure.”
The tournament not only added to his resume, but it also added to his dream to play professional volleyball overseas.
Rogers states, “My biggest takeaway would be learning everything I possibly can from those coaches…they all played such high-level volleyball and they did what I want to do in my career, taking in as much as I can as possible.”
Rogers is excited for the college volleyball season to start. For more information about NORCECA, visit norceca.ne,t and for more information regarding Ball State Men’s Volleyball, visit ballstatesports.com/sports/mens-volleyball
Contact Emma Bergman with comments at emma.bergman@bsu.edu.
