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What Michigan is to Ohio State in every other sport, Ball State is to men's volleyball. From the very first point of the game OSU brought intensity and effort that Ball State could not match.
"That was what really won us the match," senior Dan Mathews said. "They didn't bring the intensity that we did."
The OSU men's volleyball team swept away their rival Saturday at St. John Arena to win the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championship. The Buckeyes clinched a berth in the NCAA championships at Cal Irvine with the victory. It is the first time since 2005 that OSU qualified for the NCAAs. Defeating Ball State made it that much sweeter.
"It means a lot," Mathews said. "Not so much because of the rivalry but because they're such a great team."
The No. 9 Buckeyes (20-7) split the two regular season match ups with the No. 10 Cardinals (21-10) before sweeping them in the tournament's championship game 3-0 (30-19, 30-24, 30-21). Senior Brett Versen led OSU with a match-high 21 points.
"We split with them in the regular season, so to see them again in the conference finals and win means that much more," sophomore John Klanac said.
MIVA Coach of the Year Pete Hanson understood the urgency OSU needed, especially after coming so close last year only to fall in the conference championship game.
"This is the time you better elevate," the OSU coach said. "If you don't come to play when it's one and done then you don't deserve to put on a uniform."
Last year's loss served as a crucial motivating factor for the team, driving them to the championship.
"To come back again and this time give our seniors a win is big," Klanac said.
Before the Buckeyes played Ball State, they had to defeat Loyola-Chicago (17-14) Thursday in the semifinals. OSU, led by junior Robbie Klein's 14.5 points, swept the Ramblers easily at St. John Arena 3-0 (30-22,30-26,30-27).
Three Buckeyes were named to the MIVA All-Tournament Team. Versen, Klein and Mathews represented OSU, making up half of the team. Mathews was named the tournament's most valuable player, the second time in his illustrious career he has received the honor.
It was the 11th time the Buckeyes have won the MIVA tournament and the fourth time since 2000. The tournament champion automatically qualifies for the NCAAs.
OSU will resume play Thursday in the national semifinal game. The teams joining OSU in Cal Irvine are Pepperdine, Long Beach State and No. 1 Penn State. An at-large bid . Even after losing to Penn State earlier in the season, OSU is confident in its ability.
"We've seen this team before," Klanac said. "We feel we can compete with them."
The Buckeyes are only two wins away from the National Championship. Are they capable of bringing home the title?
"I definitely think we are," Mathews said. "Absolutely."
Scott Polacek can be reached at polacek.3@osu.edu.
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