The men's volleyball team (5-4, 0-1 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) will be without two of its starting players when it plays Ohio State and George Mason on the road this weekend.
Dave Carlson injured his back in the warm up right before the Cardinals' game against Brigham Young Feb. 4. Head coach Joe Walton said the setter has not practiced this week and will not travel with the team.
"I think we're going to keep Dave away from the bus and give him another week of rest from travel to help him get back with the team," Walton said.
Middle attacker Zoran Grabovac suffered a case of aggravated tendinitis at practice Tuesday, Walton said, and most likely will not play on this weekend.
Mark Rumschik will step into the starting line up as outside attacker, and Evan Berg, who took over as setter last weekend, will continue his role when BSU plays No. 12 Ohio State (8-2, 1-0 MIVA) on Friday.
The Buckeyes are returning most of their players from last season.
"It's a group of guys we're familiar playing against," Walton said. "They just really attack you,"
OSU has a .343 hitting percentage average for the season.
The Cards will then head to No. 14 George Mason Saturday for to avenge their Jan. 22 loss to the Patriots at Worthen Arena.
Walton said having a chance to see how George Mason plays and responds to its opponents will help BSU. However, the team will need to stay motivated for the second game of the weekend.
"We've got to be ready to find those energy reserves," he said. "That's going to be a challenge yet we've done it before and been successful."
Walton said the unranked Cards have a chance to prove themselves this weekend if they just take it.
"I would like us to start realizing our potential now instead of at the end of the season," he said.
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