Men's Volleyball Places Two on Preseason MIVA All-Conference Team
December 20, 2005 | Men's Volleyball
Muncie, Ind. - - Ball State men's volleyball senior outside attacker Evan Berg (Bristol, Wis./Central H.S.) and junior outside attacker Nick Meyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller H.S.) have been selected to the 2006 Preseason All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association All-Conference Team as selected by the league's seven head coaches. In addition, Ball State has been picked to finish fourth out of the seven A-League teams in the MIVA Preseason Poll.
Berg earned praise on the All-MIVA First Team in 2005 after pacing the Cardinals and ranking second in the league with a 2.41 digs-per-game average. The 6-3 senior was the only BSU player to appear in all 115 games and racked up a 2.42 kills-per-game and a 0.33 blocks-per-game average.
Berg finished the season with kill/dig double-doubles in seven matches, while racking up double-digit kill totals in 11 contest and double-digit dig totals in 12 matches. He scored a career-high 19 kills in BSU's win at Findlay (March 16), while adding a season-best 15 digs in three matches.
Meyer picked up 2005 All-MIVA Second Team honors after smashing a team-best 4.17 kpg, which ranked fifth in the league. He also scored 1.43 dpg and 0.77 bpg as a sophomore last season.
Meyer paced the team with double-digit kills in 20 matches, while recording a career-high and BSU season-high 28 kills in the team's win over IPFW at Worthen Arena (Feb. 25). He also logged a career-best 11 digs in a win at Rutgers-Newark (Feb. 6) and a career-best seven total blocks at Juniata College (March 18).
Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Joel Walton (129-79; .620), the Cardinals return 13 players and nine letterwinners - - including five starters - - from last season's squad which posted a 17-15 (10-6 MIVA) record and finished the year ranked 15th nationally. BSU tied for third overall in the MIVA standings and advanced to the semifinals of the league's tournament where it was eliminated by eventual tournament champion No. 10 Ohio State.
The Ball State men's volleyball team enters the 2006 season, which will be its 43rd overall, with a 933-364-8 (.718) record. Over the previous 42 years, BSU has collected 21 (2002, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1979, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964) MIVA Regular Season Championships, 14 MIVA Tournament Championships (2002, 1997, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament 15 (2002, 1997, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970) times.
2006 MIVA Preseason Poll - A-League
Rank Team Points(1st place votes) 2005 Record 2005 MIVA Finish
1. Ohio State 11 (5) 24- 8 (14- 2 MIVA) 2nd (Tournament Champion)
2. IPFW 17 (1) 13-17 ( 8- 8 MIVA) 5th
3. Loyola 20 (1) 26- 3 (15- 1 MIVA) 1st
4. Ball State 22 17-15 (10- 6 MIVA) 3rd-tie
5. Quincy 37 9-17 ( 4-12 MIVA) 8th
6. Lewis 44 17-14 (10- 6 MIVA) 3rd-tie
7. Mercyhurst 45 10-14 ( 5-11 MIVA) 7th
2006 Pre-Season MIVA All-Conference Team - A-League
Student-Athlete School Pos. Ht. Cl./El. Hometown/Previous School
Evan Berg Ball State OA 6-3 5th/Sr. Bristol, Wis.
Nick Meyer Ball State OA 6-8 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio
Layne Dreven Ohio State MH 6-8 Sr./Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mark Greaves Ohio State OH 6-4 Sr. Fenton, Mo.
James Grunst Loyola MB 6-8 Jr. Milwaukee, Wis.
Chris Kozlarek Loyola OPP 6-3 Sr. Evergreen Park, Ill.
C. J. Macias IPFW OH 6-4 So. Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Findlay
Conor Martin Ohio State L 6-0 So. Avon Lake, Ohio
Daniel Mathews Ohio State S 6-6 So. Shorewood, Wis.
Serdar Sikca IPFW MH 6-7 Sr. Istanbul, Tukey