A Lewis University volleyball player was found ineligible by the NCAA for 14 matches of the 2002 season. The university agreed to forfeit those matches.
Earlier this year it was reported that No. 11 Lewis was in violation of NCAA eligibility rules because freshman Gustavo Meyer, an outside hitter, was playing college volleyball despite having played professionally overseas. Although former professional players are allowed under NCAA rules to play, certain regulations must be met, including sitting out a year.
Ball State's men's volleyball team head coach Joel Walton said the NCAA came to its ruling because of a failure to "correctly establish (Meyer's) NCAA eligibility through either the clearing house or a correct interpretation of his SAT scores."
Walton said it was "discovered that (Meyer) took a Latin SAT test and Lewis had mistakenly counted those scores as a regular SAT score." The Latin SAT is not allowed by the NCAA to be used for determining an athlete's eligibility.
By agreeing to forfeit the matches in which Meyer played, Lewis' Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association record was changed from an initial 13-2 to 8-7, a drop of five matches. The forfeit also dropped Lewis from having sole possession of the conference lead to fourth place
Meyer played in 50 games for the Flyers, averaging 4.45 kills and 1.48 digs per game while hitting .450. In addition, he was named the AVCA/Sports Imports Division I/II Men's National Player of the Week for Feb. 5-12.
Bad news for Lewis is good news for the remainder of the league, however, notably Ball State and Loyola-Chicago. As of late, Ball State was in second place behind Lewis barring a Lewis loss. The change puts the Cards into a tie for first place with No. 8 Loyola.
Ball State's record is not touched in any way because its loss to Lewis was without Meyer. Walton said the turn of events provides the team with another chance.
"In a way, this is a second life," Walton says. "It gives us a bit of an advantage. I wouldn't say that we're dancing around like we just won a conference tournament, but the one thing it does give us is a much better chance of winning or tying for the regular season. That in itself is a great accomplishment."
Despite the ruling, Lewis will still be allowed to participate in the MIVA tournament. The situation, however, virtually takes away the chance of Lewis hosting the MIVA tournament in the final rounds.
Ball State finishes its regular season this weekend at home against IPFW and Mercyhurst.
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