A victory tonight over defending national champion Lewis would be big for the men's volleyball team, head coach Joel Walton said. Walton knows, however, that the Cardinals will be facing a very different Flyer team than the one that captured the NCAA title in May.
Lewis (8-10, 4-3 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) lost three starters from last season. A fourth had knee surgery in the offseason and isn't fully recovered.
Despite the roster changes, Walton said Ball State still wants badly to beat Lewis because the Flyers swept through conference play last season.
"I realize they're not the team they were last year," Walton said. "But are they the defending national champions? Yes they are. It's good marketing for our team."
In December, Lewis officials turned the school into the NCAA for an infraction regarding an ineligible player on its 2003 team, according to a school press release. The school did not name which player was ineligible; however, two players from last year's team that did not graduate haven't played this season.
The Flyers' setter Jose Martins has not played in any matches this season but remains on the roster. Outside attacker and NCAA Tournament MVP Gustavo Meyer, however, has been absent from the roster all season.
The NCAA has not issued a statement about the incident at Lewis.
The Flyers enter Worthen Arena tonight on a four-game losing streak, while eighth-ranked Ball State (13-2, 6-0 MIVA) has won seven in a row. The Cardinals play three league matches in a five-day span this week, two coming on the road.
"This week is huge," Walton said. "Starting Tuesday, we've got to be ready to defend our home court. Lewis will want to play its best against us since we're in the lead of the conference."
Ball State's sophomore middle attacker Zoran Grabovac missed Thursday's victory over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez with tendonitis in his right knee. Walton said Grabovac performed well in practice and was jumping normally this week.
Walton said he expects the middle attacker to start, but the decision will be up to Grabovac. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
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