Ball State University Athletics
Pheister MIVA Player Of The Week, Team Climbs To No. 13
April 17, 2007 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - After helping guide the then-No. 15 Ball State men's volleyball team to a perfect 3-0 record last week, freshman setter Ethan Pheister (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood H.S.) has been named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Player of the Week. This is Pheister's first career MIVA Player of the Week selection and the fourth for the Cardinals this season.
"Ethan has done a good job coming into matches and changing the team's offensive tempo and efficiency," said head coach Joel Walton. "He provided a great boost in two of our season's biggest wins." In addition, with the three wins last week, the Cardinals climbed two spots to No. 13 in the latest CSTV/AVCA Division I-II Men's Top 15 Coaches Poll. Ball State had been ranked 15th for the past seven weeks. "The ranking is something where our guys have worked hard to earn respect," added Walton. "It is nice to be recognized by the coaches as a team improving late in the season." After coming off the bench in the third game of last Wednesday's match at Lewis, Pheister guided the Cardinals to a pivotal MIVA win over the Flyers to secure a first-round home match in this week's conference tournament. Pheister entered the contest in the third game with the score tied at one game apiece and the Cardinals hitting just .200 (26-15-55) for the match. However, with Pheister setting the offense, the Cardinals hit .474 (22-4-38) in the third frame and .404 (50-12-94) over the last three games, including a .462 (7-1-13) rate of success in the fifth game, to post a 3-2 match win. Two nights later, the 6-5 freshman recorded his first start since the third match of the season, leading the Cardinals to a 3-1 upset of No. 6 Ohio State. In the match, Pheister guided the BSU offense to a .245 (61-26-143) attack percentage, while recording a career-high two service aces. Pheister closed the week Saturday night by guiding the Ball State offense to a .266 (43-18-94) attack percentage in a 3-0 victory over Rutgers-Newark to end the regular season. In addition, Pheister recorded a career-best five total blocks (1 solo/4 assists) in the match. Pheister finished the week with 126 assists over 10 games for a 12.60 average. He also added 11 digs, eight total blocks, three kills and a pair of aces. The No. 13 Ball State men's volleyball team returns to the court Saturday, when it hosts Lewis in MIVA Tournament Quarterfinal action at 7:30 p.m. in Worthen Arena. Admission to the match is FREE.
