MUNCIE, Ind. --- In the first-ever meeting between Tusculum University men's volleyball and Ball State University, it was the Cardinals coming away with the victory on Saturday (Jan. 15).

Ball State (2-0) won by scores of 25-15, 25-7, 25-15 to down the Pioneers (0-2).

Kaleb Jenness and Dyer Ball registered seven kills apiece, firing on .583 and .385 clips, respectively. Vanis Buckholz added six kills on a .556 hitting percentage. Quinn Isaacson dished out 25 assists and landed a match-high five service aces. Felix Egharevba also tallied four aces, while Colin Ensalaco notched seven digs to lead the match. Both Buckholz and Ball are credited with a pair of block assists each.

For the Pioneers, every available player saw action. Jake Whyte led the way with six kills, one more than Dane Loup. Shaphar Grant was a perfect 5-for-5 on his swings as well. Rounding out the offensive category were Colby Landry (3), Shaun Kampshoff (2), and Deklan Wingo (1). Kampshoff handed out 16 assists, while Loup finished with a team-best six digs, Landry added five, and Arthur Della Nina, in his first collegiate start, scooped up a trio. Kampshoff and Grant combined for the lone block for TU.

Ball State finished the match with a .407 hitting percentage with 31 kills and seven attack errors on 59 total attempts. Tusculum totaled 22 kills, 17 errors, and 70 swings for a .071 hitting percentage. The Cardinals led the Pioneers in assists (29-19), aces (14-0), digs (24-16), and total blocks (3-1).

Tusculum continues its road trip with a three-match weekend in Georgia. The Pioneers play Benedict in the Tigers' first-ever match (2 p.m.) and the host Fort Valley State Wildcats (6 p.m.) on Friday, January 21.