Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Volleyball To Host Alumni Weekend Friday & Saturday
January 05, 2016 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - In addition to opening the 2016 season versus Stanford (Friday) and Alderson Broaddus (Saturday) in the Don Shondell/Active Ankle Challenge, the rich tradition of Ball State men's volleyball will be on display this weekend when the Cardinals host its alumni weekend.
In conjunction with the Ball State University Alumni Association, the men's volleyball program will host several events surrounding both matches. A complete list of events, along with registration information, can be found at the following link: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/mens-volleyball-alumni-weekend-registration-19279085263
“Ball State men's volleyball alumni are a family,” 18th-year head coach Joel Walton said. “The guys who have come through our program realize they had opportunities not very many people get. We appreciate those opportunities, and because of that, so many of our alumni continue to contribute to the program today to make it the best it can be. Our alumni events are really more like a family reunion. We look forward to these opportunities to get together and catch up with what is going on in everyone's lives.”
Since men's volleyball became a varsity sport at Ball State for the 1964 season, nearly 300 student-athletes have earned letters to help the program achieve an 1123-463-8 all-time record. Ball State has captured 14 MIVA Tournament Championships, 21 MIVA Regular Season Titles and earned 15 berths into the NCAA Tournament during the span, while becoming the second men's volleyball program to reach 1,000 all-time victories behind only UCLA. The program has also been ranked in the AVCA Division I-II Men's Volleyball Coaches Poll a total of 331 times.
Started by AVCA Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Don Shondell, who tallied a 769-280-6 record over his 34 seasons as the program's head coach, Ball State has also had 27 student-athletes earn a total of 46 All-America honors, while 10 have been inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition, Ball State's players have combined to earn a total of 176 All-MIVA awards, including 127 first team selections.
As part of his continued support of the Ball State men's volleyball program, retired head coach Don Shondell will present seven Don Shondell Lifetime Achievement Awards at Friday's match versus Stanford which has been dubbed part of the Don Shondell/Active Ankle Challenge.
Being honored at the match are former Ball State men's volleyball letterwinners Kevin Furnish (1989-91), Steve Hendricks (1987-90), Mike Lingenfelter (1983), John Shondell (1989, 91-93), Craig Skinner (1990-93) and Joel Walton (1985-88), as well as former Ball State women's volleyball head coach Barbara Curcio (1972-75, 77-82).
Stay up-to-date on all Ball State men's volleyball action by following @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB on Twitter.
