Ball State University Athletics
Men's Volleyball hosts MSOE and No. 13 IPFW this Weekend
March 14, 2006 | Men's Volleyball
After taking a week off for spring break, the Ball State men's volleyball team returns to action this weekend with a pair of home matches at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals open the weekend Friday by hosting the Milwaukee School of Engineering in a non-conference match-up. BSU will then host No. 13 IPFW in a pivotal Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match Saturday night. Both contests will start at
The Cardinals enter the week with a 14-3 overall record, including a 4-2 MIVA slate in the Shondell/Dunlap division. BSU is 7-1 at Worthen Arena this season, with its only loss coming to then-No. 12 Ohio State (Feb. 25). The Cardinals hold home league wins over then-No. 12 Loyola, Mercyhurst and Quincy.
MSOE enters the week with a 6-14 overall record, including a 1-4 record in the MIVA's Coleman Division. The Cardinals topped the Raiders 3-0 (30-11, 30-8, 30-21) in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs on
IPFW enters the week with a 13-5 overall record and a 5-2 MIVA slate in the Shondell/Dunlap division. The Mastodons have won their last 11 matches, including a 3-1 (30-20, 35-33, 28-30, 30-24) victory over the then-No. 8 Cardinals (Feb. 17). IFPW also owns two wins over Pacific and one win over then-No. 12 Ohio State during their streak.
Despite the loss to IPFW earlier in the year, the Cardinals maintain a 56-22 advantage in the all-time series with the Mastodons, including a 10-2 record in the last 12 contests. During that stretch, BSU is 6-0 vs. IPFW in Worthen Arena. The Mastodon's last win on BSU home court come
As a team, the Cardinals remain the best defensive team in the MIVA statistically, topping the league in blocks (3.25), digs (12.13) and opponents hitting percentage (.174). Offensively, the Cardinals hold the No. 1 spot in service aces (1.72), are second in kills (15.44) and third in assists (14.26) and hitting percentage (.285).
Individually, Ian Peckler continues to pace the league in digs per game at 3.06, while Nick Meyer ranks second in the MIVA in points (5.38) and kills (4.50) per game. Zoran Grabovac ranks second in blocks (1.56), while Dave Carlson holds the No. 2 slot in aces (.037) and the No. 3 slot in assists (12.61) per game.
