Some men's volleyball fans might say that this weekend's Don Shondell/Active Ankle Challenge won't be very challenging in the absence of Juniata College. The Ball State University men's volleyball team was scheduled to play the Juniata Eagles in the second match of the challenge, which is in its second season.
Juniata will not be making the trip to Muncie due to some athletic policy infractions.
"The team is suspended pending investigation until at least early next week," said Larry Bock, Juniata Director of Athletics. "There was a major violation of university athletic policy."
There is only one match in the challenge, but the rest of the excitement comes from watching the No. 10 Cardinals in a volleyball program started and maintained by the challenge's honoree, Don Shondell.
"I think regret is the word, that we couldn't play in an event that has Don Shondell's name associated with it," Bock said.
THE LEGEND
Shondell, after 34 seasons as head coach (1964-1998), has more victories than most coaches in any sport (769). With an overall record of 769-280-6 (.732), Shondell's teams have won or shared the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association title 19 times. Shondell started up the MIVA, the conference his own team competed in. Leading his team into the NCAA tournament 14 times, Shondell became the second-winningest head coach in the history of NCAA men's volleyball. He is second to only Al Scates, UCLA's men's coach who has over a thousand wins on his career. Shondell, after graduating Ball State in 1952, began the men's volleyball program as a varsity sport in 1964. Before that year, men's volleyball was a club sport and had been for several years. He coached every year until 1998 with the exception of 1965 when he completed his doctorate at Indiana University. In 1996, an eight-time MIVA Coach of the Year, Shondell was honored as an All-Time Great Volleyball Coach by the United States Volleyball Association and was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame.
"Coach Shondell fought hard to get the program started and to sustain it as other programs were being eliminated," current coach Joel Walton said. "I have a great appreciation for what he has done for Ball State volleyball. Honoring him by naming this classic after him is something I'm very proud of."
Shondell served as the MIVA's first president, which was the first collegiate volleyball association in the nation. He was an assistant coach at the 1973 World University Games, the NCAA All-Stars in 1971 and 1972, and also coached against China in the 1976 USA Tour.
Shondell also authored or co-authored several books and articles such as, "Volleyball; Championship Volleyball by the experts," "Volleyball Drill Cords," and "The Volleyball Coaching Bible." He also served as an editor for the "USVBA Guide," and "Coaching Volleyball" magazine.
Don Shondell set a legacy of tradition and excellence that players and coaches can only hope to mirror in the future.
When the men's volleyball team would play in Irving Gym in the 1970s it would be capacity crowd with four or five thousand fans. Now fans struggle with the first few rows of Worthen Arena.
"We've got a great team this year," Shondell said. "I'm just really pleased with the way our young guys are starting to play."
CARTHAGE
These 'young guys' are ranked No. 10 in the nation and host Div. III No. 2 Carthage University. The Carthage Redmen, from Kenosha, Wis., took second place in last year's Div. III NCAA tournament. The two Redmen the Cardinals will have to focus most on are Shane Olson and T.J. Belini, who both average over three kills a game. Coach Walton still looks for balance offensively.
"It becomes harder for our opponents if our offense is more balanced," Walton said. "if we're balanced, we're unpredictable."
For a Cardinal fan that wants a nationally ranked team with a perfect record, men's volleyball is the team to watch.
"We have had a real history of great crowds for men's volleyball here at Ball State," Walton said. "Crowds that come and support the team, are very vocal and into the match and it's always a big advantage for us to play at home."
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