Ball State University Athletics
Four Men?s Volleyball Players Honored By MIVA Coaches
April 20, 2007 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Four members of the No. 13 Ball State men's volleyball team were honored today as the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association announced its all-conference and specialty award selections, as voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
Senior outside attacker Nick Meyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller H.S.) earned his second-straight All-MIVA First Team selection, while junior libero Ian Peckler (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills H.S.) was named to the All-MIVA Second Team for the second-straight year. Sophomore middle attacker Matt McCarthy (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South H.S.) also earned second team status, while freshman setter Jeff Schmitz (Fenton, Mo./St. John Vianney H.S.) was named MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year, along with IPFW's libero Matt Pliski.
Meyer, who earns All-MIVA First Team accolades for the second time in his career, is a three-time MIVA Player of the Week selection this season and was named the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week after guiding Ball State to the Championship of the 2007 Don Shondell/Active Ankle Challenge. Meyer, a 2005 All-MIVA Second Team honoree, enters Saturday's MIVA Tournament match versus Lewis ranked 11th in the nation with a 5.09 points-per-game average, while ranking 14th nationally with a 4.32 kills-per-game average. "It is good to see Nick make the first team again," said head coach Joel Walton. "Nick has meant a lot to our team over his four year career, which can be seen by him being named to an all-conference team for the last three years." Over the course of the 2007 season, Meyer has climbed to fifth in school history in both career kills (1,375) and career aces (108). He has logged double-figure kills in 22 matches this season, including 20-or-more in seven contests. In BSU's match at George Mason (Jan. 19), Meyer smashed a career-high 30 kills, while adding 26 kills in BSU's win over then-No. 9 Pacific (March 24), 19 kills in BSU's upset of then-No. 6 IPFW (Feb. 23) and 14 kills in the victory over No. 6 Ohio State (April 13). Peckler, who picks up All-MIVA Second Team accolades for the second-straight season, currently ranks first in the MIVA and fifth nationally with a 2.61 digs-per-game average. He has logged double-figure digs in 13 matches this season, including a season-high 15 digs versus then-No. 11 Loyola (Feb. 24), which he tied in BSU's upset of No. 6 Ohio State. "Ian has anchored our team's ball control for the last three years," said Walton. "We count on him every night to start our offense with great passes and play tenacious defense in the back row." In BSU's match at then-No. 7 Ohio State (March 9), Peckler scored a career-high two kills. For the year, Peckler owns a .968 reception percentage, including a perfect mark in nine matches. Peckler logged no reception errors in 26 attempts in BSU's win over then-No. 6 IPFW, while tallying no reception errors in 18 attempts in BSU's upset of then-No. 9 Pacific. McCarthy, a first-time All-MIVA Second Team honoree, enters the week ranked third in the league and 11th nationally with a .451 attack percentage. He also ranks ninth in the MIVA and near the top 20 nationally with a 1.03 blocks-per-game average. In last Wednesday's win at Lewis (April 11), McCarthy smashed a career-high 17 kills to help BSU secure a first-round home match in this week's MIVA Tournament. "Matt has been one of our league's best middle attackers all season long," said Walton. "He has earned second team honors in spite of suffering through back pain the entire season and continuing to play after being diagnosed with a stress fracture midway through the year. Matt has shown a lot of courage and determination to be able to play on a nightly basis with this injury." Prior to his 17 kills at Lewis, McCarthy scored a then-career-high 13 kills versus St. Francis (Jan. 13) and tied the mark at Carthage (March 3). He tallied a career-best .833 (11-1-12) attack percentage at St. Francis (Jan. 21), while recording at least one block in 27 of BSU's 28 matches, including a career-high nine total blocks (3 solo/6 assists) at Carthage. McCarthy has posted four-or-more blocks on 13 occasions, while smashing double-figure kills in 12 matches. Schmitz is the first Ball State men's volleyball player to earn MIVA Freshman of the Year accolades in the 10-year history of the award. He enters the week ranked fifth in the MIVA with an 11.16 assist-per-game average. BSU's starting setter for much of the season, Schmitz dished out a career-high 61 assists in a win at Quincy (March 2). "Jeff did a good job setting our team's offense a majority of this season and it is nice to see him recieve recognition for that effort," said Walton. "Any time you have a freshman setter, it is a bit nerve racking. However, Jeff has done a good job in that role, leading our team to a 17-11 regular season record." In the Cardinals' match at then-No. 12 Loyola (April 5), Schmitz smashed a career-best five kills, on a career-high 12 attempts, while adding a career-best two aces. In BSU's upset of then-No. 6 IPFW, Schmitz logged a career-high 10 digs and handed out 43 assists. He scored a career-best six total blocks (1 solo/5 assists) to help guide the Cardinals to a win over Springfield College (Feb. 10) in the championship match of the 2007 Volleyball Hall of Fame/Morgan Classic. The Ball State men's volleyball team returns to action Saturday, when it hosts Lewis in first-round MIVA Tournament action.
