Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Volleyball Opens Season Tuesday Ranked 14th in the Nation
January 08, 2007 | Men's Volleyball
Muncie, Ind. - - The Ball State men's volleyball team enters the 2007 season as the No. 14th-ranked team in the nation, according to the CSTV/AVCA Division I-II Men's Top 15 Coaches Poll. The Cardinals share the No. 14 slot with the University of the Pacific.
The Cardinals, who ended the 2006 season ranked 12th after posting a 21-7 overall record and ranking as high as eighth during the year, open the 2007 season Tuesday night when it hosts Clarke at 7:30 p.m. at Worthen Arena. Admission to the match is
FREE!!! for all fans wishing to attend.
Ball State will also host No. 8 Penn State (Friday at 7:30 p.m.) and St. Francis (Saturday at 7:30 p.m.) this week. Friday's contest versus the Nittany Lions will serve as the first of four autograph poster nights for the Cardinals.
Under the direction of ninth-year head coach Joel Walton, who has tallied an 154-82 (.653) career record, the Cardinals return nine players and eight letterwinners - - including three starters and the libero - - from last season's squad. The 2006 Cardinals finished third overall in the MIVA standings at 8-4 and advanced to the semifinals of the league's tournament before being eliminated by eventual tournament champion IPFW.
The Ball State men's volleyball team enters the 2007 season - - which will be its 44th overall - - with a 954-371-8 (.719) record. Over the previous 43 years, BSU has collected 21 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Regular Season Championships (2002, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1979, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964), 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.
