With snow still lightly falling on the 12.8 inches Muncie received the last two days and the university canceling classes, the Ball State University men's volleyball team remained where it always is Wednesday mornings: Worthen Arena.
Less than three days before opening its conference season against No. 11 Lewis University and on a three-match losing streak, canceling practice during a snowstorm was not even an option for the Ball State players and coaches.
"Regardless of the snow, we should still be in here practicing," outside attacker Todd Chamberlain said. "It's a huge match."
The Cardinals (0-3, 0-0 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) enter Friday's home match after losing both of their road matches last weekend. Ball State lost to No. 1 Penn State University and then to unranked St. Francis University.
With Wednesday's practice being the team's first full practice since returning from Pennsylvania, coach Joel Walton said it was important in implementing the Cardinals' game plan against the preseason-MIVA favorite Flyers (3-1, 0-0 MIVA).
Arriving 15 minutes late to practice because the roads near his house were not plowed, the coach said he never considered canceling practice.
"For these guys they're going a couple of blocks maybe walking through some snowdrifts," Walton said. "Especially since they have the day off, it's important to get them in here and get them a workout. Then they can relax the rest of the day."
At the start of the 9:30 a.m. practice a majority of the players were already on the court. Some players -ยก- such as Chamberlain - were not aware until they arrived to the team locker room that the university had canceled classes an hour before the start of practice.
"When I woke up this morning I was like 'Wow there is a ton of snow,'" Chamberlain said. "But that does not mean we are not going to have practice."
The last player to arrive to the practice was Ethan Pheister. The all-conference setter was about 20 minutes late to practice because of the snow.
Living on Carson Street near Ball State's campus, Pheister said he was glad practice was not canceled - despite it being difficult to get to Worthen Arena,
"It was terrible," he said. "I actually got stuck in the alley and I ended up just walking here. It took me twice as long to walk. I spent half an hour digging out the car."
Wednesday was the second consecutive time the men's volleyball team held practice when Ball State canceled school because of snow. In 2007, the team held practice when Muncie had about 11 inches of snow - the city's worst blizzard in 60 years.
Walton said he wanted this to be a normal week of practice for his team so it can be ready for the weekend. The coach also said he needs the two days of practice to figure out who to start at the two left outside attacker positions.
In the loss to the Nittany Lions on Friday the left outside attackers combined for a -.004 attack percentage. Walton said he will use a combination of Marcus Imwalle, Lee Meyer, Dominic Spadavecchio and Matt Sprague against the Flyers.
Lewis' two kill leaders - Nathan Klass and Drew Pickering - are both left outside attackers and are averaging at least three kills per game. For the Cardinals to be successful, Walton said, one of Ball State's left outside attackers will have to put up a good block against Klass and Pickering.
Pheister said the two days of practice will also help the Cardinals be more focused for Friday's match.
"We just got to be focused and play good match," he said. "If we come out overconfident they are going to roll us. I think we just need to come in and play a good match and be ready to play a five-setter because that's probably what is going to happen."
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