The men's volleyball team will conclude its regular-season schedule this weekend as its plays host to Mercyhurst today and IPFW Saturday. The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association tournament starts the following weekend.
No. 9 Ball State (18-7 overall, 12-2 MIVA) will face Mercyhurst (6-18, 3-11) later tonight as it tries to take the season series two games to none. The Cardinals defeated the Lakers in three games on Feb. 9.
Ball State follows that match with the season finale against IPFW (8-13, 6-8). The last meeting between the two teams resulted in the Cardinals pulling the victory out in four games. Ball State is 50-20 lifetime against IPFW.
Although Mercyhurst and IPFW are ranked eighth and sixth in the conference respectively, head coach Joel Walton said the team cannot look past these two teams regardless of the situation.
"Whether it's second place in the MIVA or third place, we've got two matches this weekend and they are both vital to where we finish and who we play in the conference tournament," Walton said. "Both teams are in a position where, based on how everyone finishes, we can play one of them in the quarterfinals next weekend."
The Cardinals are back in first place, barring a loss to either team this weekend. Walton said he has faith in the team that it will not fail to place the proper importance on this weekend.
"I know our team is mature enough that as they look at these two matches, they understand the importance," Walton said. "(We are) trying to establish the highest seed possible going into the tournament and we're trying to build momentum. If we go in with a three-match streak, I'll take that."
Only eight of the nine teams will make the tournament and, as would be expected in any league preparing for the postseason, everyone is jockeying for seeding.
Ball State needs to win its matches this weekend to win the top seed in the conference. Walton said he hopes the team will play to control its own destiny.
"We still have a large control of our destiny, and we want to make sure that we're prepared and ready to go," Walton said.
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