When Ethan Pheister steps onto the court for the season opener Saturday, he will know the starting setter position is his for the entire season.
After splitting time as the starter with Jeff Schmitz during the last two seasons, the 2008 second team all-conference player will be the only setter on the No. 13 Ball State University men's volleyball team's roster who has played in a college match.
"I know I can go out and play and know that it is still going to be my job tomorrow," Pheister said. "It's a little bit of extra confidence."
Pheister started 28 of the Cardinals' 31 matches last season and was second in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association with a 12.09 assists-per-game average. He also had a league-best 13.15 assists-per-game average in conference matches as a sophomore last season.
Schmitz, the 2007 MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year and starting setter before Pheister replaced him with three matches remaining in the 2007 regular season, transferred to the University of California at Irvine following last season.
Pheister said he was disappointed Schmitz transferred because of the two setters' relationship.
"Jeff was a great competitor," he said. "We always pushed each other in the gym and off the court. I'm never going to say I'm happy Jeff left, but it's good to know it's my job."
Coach Joel Walton said he is not completely sure why Schmitz transferred to No. 5 UC-Irvine, especially because Schmitz will redshirt this season and is one of five setters on the Anteaters' roster.
"I think it just got to a point where certain things inside of him lead him to want to explore playing in another program," Walton said. "That's also one of those decisions that only time can tell if it was good decision for Jeff."
Pheister's backup this season will be redshirt freshman Daniel Penrod. Penrod played four seasons at Wapahani High School in Selma and helped the team advance to the 2005 State Championship Match.
Walton said Penrod has been more impressive than he originally expected, but he also said the Cardinals do not have the same depth at setter than they do at other positions.
"He's done a good job in that role, but we lose a lot of experience and give up a lot of height if something happens to Ethan," Walton said.
Without Schmitz to challenge him, Walton said, Pheister will have to be internally motivated. The coach also said the biggest difference with Pheister this season is the setter will be healthy.
At the end of the regular and throughout the Cardinals' tournament run to the MIVA Championship Match, Pheister had a middle foot sprain that did not fully heal until midway through the fall, Walton said.
During the conference tournament, Pheister split time with Schmitz at setter and was benched after the second game of Ball State's loss to Ohio State University in the championship match.
"We saw last season when he was healthy and aggressive, he was both a great blocker and setter for our team," Walton said.
Despite the limited off-season, Walton said, Pheister has become more consistent and accurate at making sets. Outside attacker Todd Chamberlain also said Pheister has been playing well in the team's off-season workouts.
"Ethan has been setting a good ball, and we've been able to find some rhythm the last few weeks in practice," Chamberlain said.
Along with being healthy, Pheister will run a new offensive system this season that is quicker-paced than last season.
Pheister said he likes the offense running faster. He also said the team is adapting to the new system well in practice and will be ready for the team's opener against No. 4 Stanford University at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Worthen Arena.
"It is nothing I can't pick up and the whole team can't pick up," he said. "We are starting to do some pretty good things."
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