In the last four seasons, libero Ian Peckler has not played in five of 103 matches for the Ball State University men's volleyball team.
However, the 2007 second-team All-American doesn't know if he will start against No. 8 Ohio State University on Friday.
Players and coach Joel Walton said Wednesday it is undecided whether Peckler or sophomore Billy Ebel will be the starting libero against the first-place Buckeyes (7-2, 5-0 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association).
"It's all up on the air. Every day it's up in the air," Ebel said. "We don't even know who will be on the first team in practice."
In the Cardinals' (7-6, 2-1 MIVA) two matches last weekend, Ebel came off the bench to replace Peckler after game three of Ball State's five-game win against No. 14 George Mason University on Friday. In addition, Ebel started and played in all three games of a sweep against Rutgers-Newark University on Saturday.
Walton said he made the change at libero because the team struggled passing and finding its offensive rhythm with Peckler in the lineup.
Peckler, who is second in the MIVA with 107 digs, said he was fine not playing and uses it as extra motivation.
"It's just kind of a mental thing for me right now," Peckler said. "I've done my preparation for where I need to be and what I need to do for our team to be successful [Friday] and I'm just going to work hard the next couple days in practice."
Walton said he will decide who his starting libero will be based on how the two players perform in practice.
"They are both great players and they both are going to keep competing for that job," Walton said. "Just because Billy played this past weekend doesn't mean he's going to be in that position the rest of the year."
During the weekend Ebel had 13 digs, including a career-high seven digs against the Scarlet Knights.
Ebel said the experience of playing as a freshman last season and training in the summer helped him learn how to compete for a starting position.
"I think I have a lot of potential to start the game depending how I play in practice," Ebel said. "I can't slack off one bit."
Despite the competition for the starting position, Ebel and Peckler have remained good teammates and the issue has not divided the team, Ebel said.
"We have high expectations for each other," he said. "If one messes up, we want to be the first one to [say] 'hey you got this.' We have to stay on each other's back. If we are against each other, how much is that going to do for the team?"
The Cardinals enter Friday's match tied for third place in the MIVA and are two-and-half games behind the Buckeyes.
Ohio State coach Pete Hanson said the uncertainty at libero has not affected the Buckeye's match preparations because Peckler or Ebel will be located on the same spot of the court.
Hanson also said he is looking forward to playing Ball State.
"It's going to be a match played with a lot of energy because it's a good rival between the schools."
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