Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Volleyball Releases 2009 Schedule
September 17, 2008 | Men's Volleyball
CLICK HERE TO VIEW BALL STATE'S 2009 SCHEDULE
MUNCIE, Ind. - - On Wednesday (Sept. 17), Ball State men's volleyball head coach Joel Walton officially released the team's 2009 schedule, which sees the Cardinals open the season with a Jan. 17 home match versus Mountain Pacific Sports Federation rival Stanford. In addition, BSU's second match will see the Cardinals visit 2008 National Champion Penn State on Jan. 23.
"With our 2009 schedule, were are once again going to challenge our team right out of the gate," said Walton. "By hosting Stanford and visiting Penn State, our team will get an opportunity to test itself against some of the nation's elite programs early. As the level of competition in the MIVA gets tougher every season, it is important for us to get ready for league play by facing some highly-competitive teams early."
The Cardinals will not have to wait long before opening Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association play, as the team will host Lewis for its fourth match of the season on Jan. 30.
"While winning the MIVA Championship is always our team's goal, we are going to have a lot of competition for the league title this season. Right now, the MIVA is a very strong league. Every one of the six league schools has a chance at taking home the title. To win the MIVA crown, we will have to compete at a high level every night."
While the Cardinals will continue several old rivalries in the 2009 season, including home and away matches with Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association foes Penn State, George Mason, St. Francis and Rutgers-Newark, BSU will get a chance to play a new opponent this season, when it travels to Phoenix, Arizona, for a two-match series versus a first-year program in Grand Canyon University (March 7-8).
"In addition to our league schedule, we continue to challenge our team by facing the best programs from the EIVA. This season we also have an opportunity to help a fledgling program when we travel to Grand Canyon University. Anytime men's volleyball adds a program, it's exciting. I look forward to battling GCU for many years to come."
While it will be exciting to face the new program, the trip to Phoenix comes at a busy time for the Cardinals, who will be playing seven matches, including six road contests, in a span of 13 days from March 5-17. Matches included in the span are a home contest versus Carthage, as well as road contests at Quincy, GCU, Ohio State, Lewis and Loyola.
"March will be a very challenging month for our team. Any time you play that many matches in a short time frame, it is tough physically and mentally. To play most of those matches on the road will add to the challenge. I look for that span to define who we are as a team."
After ending the regular season with home matches against Penn State (April 17) and St. Francis (April 18), the Cardinals will open play in the 2009 MIVA Tournament with either a first-round match April 25 or a semifinal contest April 30. The MIVA Tournament Championship match will be played May 2, with the winner earning the league's automatic bid into the 2009 NCAA Championships, which will be hosted by Brigham Young University May 7-9.
