Four weeks into the season libero Billy Ebel will finally play in the match he has been waiting to play.
For the last two seasons, Ebel has watched from the bench as the No. 13 Ball State University men's volleyball team's matches against George Mason University would consistently have long rallies - a libero's dream chance to get digs.
The junior will get the opportunity tonight to make digs to keep alive the long rallies against George Mason. The Cardinals will play the Patriots at 7:30 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
"This is my ideal match," Ebel said. "I'm really looking forward to it."
In matches with long rallies, Ball State coach Joel Walton said the libero becomes more important than usual because there are more dig opportunities and his passing ability can lead to more offensive chances. The coach also said Ebel has done a good job getting digs for Ball State this season.
"Billy does the great job of being our floor general and talking to the guys about what is coming next - if we are getting a free ball letting them know if he is going to be able to take that pass so that we can get all of our attackers into that approach route," Walton said.
Ebel enters this match averaging 3.71 digs per game - the best average in the conference and second best average in the nation. In the Cardinals' (1-3, 1-0 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) first four matches, he also had at least 10 digs, including a match-high 12 digs in Ball State's sweep against No. 14 Lewis University on Friday.
"Me and Joel have set goals for myself for what I want to do this season," Ebel said. "I not only want to be one of the best liberos but I also want be one of the best leaders on the court to help our team get to where we want to be, which is a national championship."
Ebel is on pace to break the school record of 3.01 digs per game average, which Ian Peckler set last season. Peckler, a 2007 second team All-American, graduated last year after breaking the Ball State record for career digs during his four-year college career.
Walton said he expected Ebel to be this successful in his first season as the permanent starting libero. The coach also said Ebel has lived up to his expectation of replacing Peckler.
"We know for all time that Billy is a great defensive player. He's a very good passer who passes the ball in a consistent rhythm," Walton said. "He's just had Ian Peckler in front of him the last couple years. It's made it hard for us to get him out on the court."
When studying film of Ball State for tonight's match, George Mason coach Fred Chao said he was impressed with Ebel's performance.
"He has what it takes to contribute to a program to a libero," Chao said. "You have some liberos that exist and are just out there. So far he has filled the team's role and contributed to team success."
In the last three matches between Ball State and George Mason (2-1, 1-0 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association), the teams had a combined three or more players with at least 10 digs. Also, the team that had multiple players with more than 10 digs won two of the three matches.
In their last match in April 2008, the Patriots defeated the Cardinals at Worthen Arena as they had two players with more than 10 digs and set a school record with 25 blocks in the four-game win.
Chao said the team that wins tonight's match will be the one that makes better digs and makes good passes on the other team's kill attempts. The coach also said he expects this match to once again have long rallies.
"That's kind of been a tradition with Ball State and George Mason," Chao said. "It's just really good volleyball."
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