Two of the winningest programs in college men’s volleyball history are slated to face off against each other for the first time in 15 years.
Ball State as part of unveiling its 2026 schedule on Thursday announced it will play a non-conference match against UCLA.
Both the Cardinals and Bruins were the first two college men’s volleyball teams to accumulate more than 1,000 victories. Two programs, though, have not met since UCLA defeated Ball State at the 2011 Outrigger Invitational.
UCLA reached the NCAA Tournament finals last season and was one win away from winning its third consecutive national championship. Three All-Americans return to the Bruins for the upcoming season, including Cameron Thorne who won the 2025 Ryan Millar Award as the nation’s top middle attacker.
Ball State opened last season in the top 10 of the national rankings and ended the season losing on the road in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals.
Outside attacker Patrick Rogers highlights the returning starters for the Cardinals. Rogers during the offseason was named the most valuable player at the NORCECA Final Six and helped the United States win the gold medal at the international tournament.
This match between the Cardinals and Bruins will be part of the First Point Collegiate Challenge on Jan. 17-18 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ball State also will play Stanford the following day at this non-conference event.
UCLA leads the all-time series against Ball State 24-3, but one of those Ball State victories was at a neutral site non-conference tournament in 1995.
2026 Ball State schedule
Jan. 3 vs. Trine
Jan. 9 vs. Missouri S&T
Jan. 10 vs. NJIT
Jan. 17 vs. UCLA (at First Point Collegiate Challenge)
Jan. 18 vs. Stanford (at First Point Collegiate Challenge)
Jan. 22 vs. Maryville
Jan. 23 vs. Charleston
Jan. 30 vs. UMES (at George Mason)
Jan. 31 at George Mason
Feb. 5 vs. Queens
Feb. 6 vs. Queens
Feb. 12 vs. McKendree
Feb. 13 vs. Lindenwood
Feb. 19 at Ohio State
Feb. 21 at Northern Kentucky
Feb. 26 vs. Tusculum
Feb. 27 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
March 5 at Loyola
March 7 at Lewis
March 12 vs. Ohio State
March 21 at Purdue Fort Wayne
March 26 at Lindenwood
March 28 at McKendree
April 2 vs. Northern Kentucky
April 9 vs. Lewis
April 11 vs. Loyola