Don't expect coach Joel Walton to limit the playing time of his starters against a winless Mercyhurst College.
The Ball State University men's volleyball team will play Mercyhurst (0-9, 0-4 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) at 7 p.m. today in Erie, Penn.
"My team is still building their confidence and earning my confidence," Walton said. "We are working on little things and areas to improve. We are hoping to continue to win matches and beat tougher opponents, and playing at level I want the team to play."
Mercyhurst has won three games this season, and hasn't won a game in conference play. Last season, Mercyhurst finished in last palace with a 1-11 record in conference play.
Ball State (6-4, 1-0 MIVA) has an all-time record of 22-1 against Mercyhurst, with Mercyhurst's one win coming in 2000. The Cardinals have also won the last 16 matches against Mercyhurst, sweeping the last three.
"We just can't ignore them and think that since they are 0-9 that we are going walk all over Mercyhurst," outside attacker Nick Meyer said. "I feel [our chances] are fairly very good against Mercyhurst. They have one or two guys we need to make sure we shut down."
Walton said all the starters will play, and the only uncertainty about the starting lineup is who will be the middle attacker.
This season middle attacker Ryan Clarke has usually played in one of the Cardinals' two weekend matches due to his chronic knee tendinitis. In the first 10 matches of the season, Clarke has played in 20 of 33 games.
"I don't expect to start Clarke; I'll save him for Friday against Penn State [University]," Walton said, "but Doug Williams has been sick all week, so I'm hoping Doug will be feeling better and ready to play."
Due to the inclement weather the Cardinals didn't practice Wednesday, but were one of the few Ball State teams to have a practice Tuesday.
Despite snow still falling in the Pennsylvania area, Walton said the game will take place at its regular time.
"They hardly ever cancel school there," Walton said. "I really don't think [the snow] will have much of an impact, and the guys will be mentally ready to play."
Thursday's match against Mercyhurst comes 24 hours before Ball State plays No. 5 Penn State. Earlier this season the Nittany Lions defeated Ball State.
However, Walton said the Mercyhurst match was the most important match of the trip because of its MIVA implications.
"It's a conference match and even though Penn is ranked and it's our chance to get back in the national rankings and send a message we have to focus on this one before worrying about the Penn State match," Walton said.
The Cardinals enter Thursday's match on a five-match winning streak. During this streak, Ball State has won 15 of 16 games, and has won its last six games.
"We want to play with the best teams and come away with victories," Walton said. "The things we need to keep doing is improve our passing and serving and our offense should run pretty well."
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