HONOLULU, Hawaii – No. 12 Ball State men’s volleyball secured a 3-2 victory (25-20, 20-25, 25-12, 20-25, 15-10) over No. 19 Penn State in the final match of the Outrigger Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Rajé Alleyne played a key role for the Cardinals on both offense and defense. Hitting at a .371 efficiency, he contributed 17 kills and three aces to Ball State’s attack. On the defensive end, he added four blocks and four digs to help stifle the Nittany Lions.

Other standout performers included Patrick Rogers and Braydon Savitski-Lynde. Rogers delivered 14 kills and five aces, while Savitski-Lynde posted an impressive .750 hitting percentage (9-0-12) and registered four blocks at the net.

Ball State had a sluggish start as Penn State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first set. A kill from Rogers got the Cardinals on the board, and they quickly added two more points to narrow the deficit to 3-5. Despite trailing 13-15, Ball State surged ahead with a six-point run to take a 19-15 lead. The set concluded at 25-20 after a Penn State service error.

The Cardinals controlled the early part of the second set, leading Penn State 14-13. However, a kill and an ace from the Nittany Lions shifted momentum, giving them their first lead since the opening point. Penn State maintained control, holding Ball State at 20 points and tying the match at one set apiece.

Ball State opened the third set with a dominant six-point run behind Peter Zurawski’s serving. The Cardinals continued their momentum, with Alleyne adding two aces during a seven-point rally. The set ended convincingly at 25-12 following a kill from Ryan Bartz.

Set four remained tight at 6-6 before Penn State’s offense managed to create separation. From a 7-6 advantage, the Nittany Lions never relinquished the lead, closing out the set 25-20 and forcing a decisive fifth set.

The Cardinals started strong in the final set, scoring three straight points and prompting a Penn State timeout. The Nittany Lions responded with a point, but Ball State answered with three more, highlighted by a kill and consecutive aces from Rogers, extending the lead to 6-1. Maintaining their advantage, the Cardinals sealed the match with a 15-10 win.

Ball State posted a .297 hitting percentage compared to Penn State’s .242 and held an edge in serving, landing nine aces to Penn State’s five.

Although Penn State leads the all-time series 21-10, Ball State has won six of the last ten meetings.

The Cardinals return to conference play next week, traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, to face Queens University. The first match is set for Thursday, March 20, at 6 p.m., followed by a second match on Saturday,

March 22, at 2 p.m.