Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State sophomore outside hitter Wil Basilio hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State head coach Mike Iandolo stands on the sideline during a match against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State junior setter Lucas Machado sets the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State junior setter Lucas Machado celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer and sophomore opposite Ryan Louis celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers serves the ball against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State freshman middle blocker Daniel Günther goes for a block against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State sophomore outside hitter Wil Basilio serves the ball against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State sophomore opposite Ryan Louis goes for a block against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State freshman middle blocker Daniel Günther goes for a block against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers smiles after a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State sophomore opposite Ryan Louis (left) and Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers (right) celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State head coach Mike Iandolo stands on the sideline during a match against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates senior night after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State head coach Mike Iandolo hands senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers his senior gift for senior night after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State celebrates senior night after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State head coach Mike Iandolo huddles up with the team after a match against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.1 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.1 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.2 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State sophomore outside hitter Wil Basilio hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.3 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.4 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.5 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.6 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.7 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.8 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State head coach Mike Iandolo stands on the sideline during a match against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.9 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State junior setter Lucas Machado sets the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.10 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.11 / 38Ball State men's volleyball earns national seed in NCAA TournamentBall State junior setter Lucas Machado celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.12 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.13 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.14 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer and sophomore opposite Ryan Louis celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.15 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers serves the ball against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.16 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State freshman middle blocker Daniel Günther goes for a block against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.17 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State sophomore outside hitter Wil Basilio serves the ball against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.18 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State sophomore opposite Ryan Louis goes for a block against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.19 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State freshman middle blocker Daniel Günther goes for a block against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.20 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set two Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.21 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers smiles after a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.22 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.23 / 38Ball State men's volleyball clinches its spot in MIVA ChampionshipBall State sophomore opposite Ryan Louis (left) and Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers (right) celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.24 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State head coach Mike Iandolo stands on the sideline during a match against Loyola Chicago during set one Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.25 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.26 / 38Ball State men's volleyball sweeps Loyola to clinch MIVA regular season titleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates a point against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.27 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer hits the ball against Loyola Chicago during set three Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.28 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.29 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.30 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.31 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.32 / 38Ball State men's volleyball sweeps Loyola to clinch MIVA regular season titleBall State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.33 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.34 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State celebrates winning the regular season title and earning home court advantage for the MIVA tournament after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.35 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State senior libero Victor Scherer celebrates senior night after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.36 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State head coach Mike Iandolo hands senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers his senior gift for senior night after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.37 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State celebrates senior night after a game against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.38 / 38Our best photos of Ball State men's volleyball hosting Loyola in top 10 battleBall State head coach Mike Iandolo huddles up with the team after a match against Loyola Chicago Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Worthen Arena.Ball State men's volleyball has earned a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Cardinals (25-4) were seeded fourth in the bracket reveal Sunday, April 26, meaning they will host the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. They will have to do so off campus, however, as Worthen Arena is taken May 1-2 due to graduation weekend. Instead, the matches will take place inside the new Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville, Indiana, just outside Indianapolis.

Ball State earned a first-round bye, meaning they will not play until Saturday, May 2 at 6 p.m. The opening match between Pepperdine (23-6) and Fort Valley State (16-12) is scheduled for Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m.

Should the Cardinals advance, they would face off with No. 1 seed UCLA (29-1) in the Final Four on May 9, which is being played on the Bruins' campus this year. The two teams faced off on Jan. 17, with UCLA winning in four sets.

The other seeds are No. 2 Hawaii (27-5) and No. 3 Long Beach State (24-4).

Ball State won the MIVA regular season and conference championships. The runner-up in both, Loyola Chicago, earned one of the five at-large spots into the 12-team field. Seven schools, including Fort Valley State, earned automatic bids by being conference champion.

Austin Hough is a sports editor within the Center for Community Journalism at USA Today Co., overseeing high school sports and Notre Dame athletics coverage for five Indiana newspapers. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough. Hough can be emailed at ahough@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State men's volleyball No. 4 seed in NCAA Tournament, to host