With four matches remaining in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season, coach Joel Walton's Cardinals are right where he wants them to be, controlling their own fate.
Currently one match out of first place, the No. 15 Ball State University men's volleyball team will play No. 12 Loyola University-Chicago 8 p.m. Thursday in Chicago.
"It's still exciting for me because we have our destiny in our hands," Walton said.-á "If we go and win our matches, we can win the MIVA."
Ball State is second place in the MIVA and one match behind No. 7 Ohio State University.
Including Thursday, three of the Cardinals' last four conference matches are against nationally ranked teams.-áBall State plays No. 10 IPFW Saturday in Fort Wayne and ends its MIVA season at home against Ohio State.
The Cardinals are 2-7 against nationally ranked teams and 0-5 on the road in those matches.-á Earlier this season, Ball State lost at home to then-No. 7 Loyola in four games 36-34, 30-32, 30-23, 31-29.
"The fun thing about [Thursday's] match is it gives us a challenge," Walton said. "To be able to step on the court and know that if we win we can be in a position to win the conference and be playing for the regular season title at home against Ohio State."
Tonight is Loyola's final regular season conference match.-á The Ramblers are fourth place in the MIVA but defeated Ohio State in its last match.
Loyola is 10-2 at home this season.-áWalton said Loyola's gym gives the Ramblers an advantage because it has a lower ceiling and the fans are closer to the court compared to other arenas.
"Going into that environment and being able to focus and execute the game plan is going to show how the guys feel about [our chances], and if they bought into what we've being saying and believe they can win this conference," Walton said.
In addition, the two most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association National Players of the Week will face each other Thursday.-á
Loyola's James Grunst was named Player of the Week Monday after averaging 2.86 kills per game and a .769 attack percentage in wins against Rutgers-Newark University and Ohio State.-á Grunst's .556 attack percentage this season is second best in the MIVA.
Outside attacker Nick Meyer was named Player of the Week March 26.-á Meyer leads the Cardinals with 340 kills and is third in the conference averaging 4.42 kills per game.
"It is an interesting thing," Walton said.-á "[Grunst] is a very important part of Loyola, and Nick is an important part of our team.-á It's going to be neat to see those two guys matched-up, knowing that only one will walk away with a win."-á
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