Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Volleyball Places Four On All-MIVA Squads
April 22, 2010 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Four members of the 13th-ranked Ball State men's volleyball team were honored Thursday as the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association announced its all-conference and specialty award selections, as voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
Representing the Cardinals on the All-MIVA First Team were senior libero Billy Ebel (Lenexa, Kan./Bishop Miege H.S.) and junior middle attacker J.D. Gasparovic (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville H.S.). Senior setter Ethan Pheister (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood H.S.) and junior middle attacker Anders Nelson (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls H.S.) earned recognition on the All-MIVA Second Team.
"Having four players recognized with all-conference honors is a reflection of a strong team performance during the 2010 season," said Ball State head coach Joel Walton. "Billy has had a great season defensively and his consistent play is highlighted by his six MIVA Defensive Player of the Week awards. Our middle play on offense and defense has been our biggest strength this season. Ethan has done a great job giving opportunities to J.D and Anders. In turn, they have used their physical advantage to control many of our team's matches."
Ebel, a first-time All-MIVA honoree, enters Saturday's MIVA Tournament quarterfinal match versus IPFW with a BSU single-season rally scoring era record 314 digs. A six-time MIVA Defensive Player of the Week selection in 2010, Ebel currently ranks second in the league with a 3.05 digs-per-game average. He is also 19 career digs shy of passing Keith Schunzel's (2001-04) career total of 684 for the No. 10 slot in BSU annals.
Gasparovic, who picks up All-MIVA First Team honors for the second straight season, enters the week ranked eighth in the nation with a 1.42 block-per-game average. The 2008 MIVA Freshman of the Year, Gasparovic has tallied BSU rally scoring era records for total blocks (145) and block assists (121) this season. The Cardinals' top attacker with a .402 hitting percentage this season, Gasparovic became just the 11th player in program history to record 400 career blocks with his match-winning block assists last Saturday versus then-No. 13 Loyola. His .405 career hitting percentage ranks fifth on Ball State's career list.
Pheister, who picks up All-MIVA Second Team accolades for the third straight season, enters MIVA Tournament play as one of only four setters in program history to record over 4,000 career assists at 4,020. He has set the Ball State offense to a .234 rate of success this season, while dishing out 11.73 assists per game. Pheister has collected a team-high 34 aces this season for a 0.33 aces-per-game average which ranks fifth in the league and 26th nationally. In addition, his 102 career service aces rank eighth in program history.
Nelson, a first-time All-MIVA selection, enters the league tournament ranked 17th in the nation with a 1.26 blocks-per-game average. His 126 total blocks rank second in the MIVA, trailing only Gasparovic's total of 145 this season. From the attack line, Nelson's .367 hitting percentage this season ranks sixth in the league, while his .408 rate of success in MIVA-only matches is second in the conference. In his two-year career with the Cardinals, Nelson has tallied 243 career blocks and owns a .390 career hitting percentage which is the sixth-best hitting mark in program history.
The No. 13 Ball State men's volleyball team returns to action Saturday, when it hosts IPFW in the quarterfinal round of the 2010 MIVA Tournament for a 7:30 p.m. first serve at Worthen Arena. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for BSU students and fans 18-and-under.
