Former NIC-10 volleyball star Braydon Savitski-Lynde caps strong first year at Ball State
Matt Trowbridge
Braydon Savitski-Lynde dominated at times in the NIC-10 as a 6-foot-6 junior basketball player, before deciding to concentrate solely on volleyball as a senior. In volleyball, he dominated constantly, leading the state in kills and spearheading a pair of Hononegah teams that are the only teams in conference history to reach the sectional finals.
ôôֱHe always had a different type of athleticism and physicality,ôôֱ Ball State coach Donan Cruz said.
That has showed in college, too. Savitski-Lynde was third on the team in kills as a freshman for a Ball State team that won the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular-season title.
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ôôֱThat athleticism transferred to his freshman year at Ball State,ôôֱ Cruz said. ôôֱItôôֱs been awesome. Braydon has been one of the hardest-working and coachable individuals on the team. I am impressed with how he navigated his transition into college volleyball.ôôֱ
Ball State did not reach the NCAA Tournament because it was upset by Lindenwood in the semifinals of the MIVA tourney, falling 15-11 in the fifth set. Savitski-Lynde went out strong with 11 kills against Lindenwood, tied for his third-most of the season.ôôֱ
Ball State finished 21-10 (13-3 MIVA), for its third consecutive 20-win season under third-year coach Cruz.
Savitski-Lynde finished with 154 kills. He also had 69 digs, sixth on the team.
So, whatôôֱs next for him next year?
ôôֱHeôôֱs made a major leap already,ôôֱ Cruz said. ôôֱAny time you return guys who have had experience on the court the hope is there is a level of sustainability and continued progress. I think Braydon has that.
ôôֱIt wasnôôֱt a special year for him. Itôôֱs about a special four years, with three years ahead of him. Thatôôֱs the most exciting thing with Braydon. He has the opportunity to come back and work his way right back into a starting spot.ôôֱ
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Savitski-Lynde will be just part of a loaded Ball State lineup again next year. The Cardinals were in the tough position this season of being the best team in their conference but not being able to represent the MIVA in the NCAAs because berths are determined by the postseason tourney, where No. 3-seed Ohio State beat No. 4 Lindenwood in the finals.
ôôֱItôôֱs tough because the regular season is the gauntlet,ôôֱ Cruz said. ôôֱYou have to be exceptional over the course of four months. But you also have to be good in the span of seven days (in the conference tournament). Thatôôֱs the nature of most collegiate sports.
ôôֱYou have to gather yourself and get ready for next year. We had our opportunities to be where we wanted and just fell a little short. Itôôֱs something we wish was different and hope changes moving ahead, but itôôֱs something we cannot control.
ôôֱWe will come back as one of the top two teams in the conference next year. No doubt us and Ohio State lead the way for the MIVA. As head coach, we have no lower expectations than that.ôôֱ