Ball State University
Springfield College
Men?s Volleyball Captures Volleyball Hall Of Fame Morgan Classic Title
February 11, 2007 | Men's Volleyball
The championship marks the second time in five trips that the Cardinals' have won the event.
“This was a good tournament win four our guys,” said head coach Joel Walton. “We did a great job with our game plan, putting together a strangling defense, pinpoint serving, strong blocking and good backcourt play. Our offense also showed improvement this weekend, but we still have some things to work on.”
In Saturday's championship match, Nick Meyer (
Todd Chamberlain (
In the opening set, the Cardinals would take an early five-point advantage at 9-4, only to see the hosts tie the match at 19-19. After playing to a 23-23 deadlock, kills from Meyer and Chamberlain, surrounding a setting error from SC, would give the Cardinals a 26-23 lead and force a Pride timeout. BSU would add the next two points, before a pair of kills from Chamberlain ended the game at 30-25.
The Cardinals would score the first three points in the final game and never look back, pulling ahead by as many as eight points, before winning the game (at 30-24) and the match on a block assist from Jeff Schmitz (Fenton, Mo./St. John Vianney H.S.) and Matt McCarthy (
Ian Peckler (
McCarthy would pace all players with seven total blocks, while adding four digs. Clarke compiled four blocks and a dig.
Schmitz dished out a match-best 41 assists, while guiding the BSU offense to a .288 (51-19-111) attack percentage. Schmitz would also score four digs, a service ace and a kill.
Mark Rumschik (
Matt Sprague (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette H.S.) rounded out BSU's contributors in the championship match with a kill.
As a team, the Cardinals out-hit the Pride .288 to .101 (36-25-109).
Eric Palumbo was
For their efforts in the two-day event, Meyer was named the Volleyball Hall of Fame Morgan Classic Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Chamberlain and Clarke were named to the all-tournament squad.
