The Ball State University men's volleyball team will play the Milwaukee School of Engineering at 8 p.m. in Milwaukee. Below are some notes about the Cardinals' (3-4, 1-0 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) match against the Division III team.
Returning home
For the last two seasons, coach Joel Walton said every time he creates the schedule he always has the same request from setter Ethan Pheister and outside attacker Eric Schulte: play a road match near Milawukee.
The two Wisconsin natives will finally get their request granted tonight.
Ball State will play a road match against the Milwaukee School of Engineering, which is located about 20 minutes from Pheister's and Schulte's hometown of Shorewood, Wisc.
Playing on the same club and high school volleyball teams, both Pheister and Schulte said they will probably have a few flashbacks when they step on the court tonight.
"It's kind of weird going back knowing that we played together probably in the same spot. We grew up together like that," Pheister said.
Pheister and Schulte each said they will have about 15 to 20 family members and friends in attendance for the match.
In six home matches this season, the Raiders have averaged 89 people in attendance per match.
"We'll get a lot of Ball State fans," Schulte said. "MSOE really won't know what's coming."
Walton said he also expects playing in front of their home crowd will elevate Pheister's and Schulte's level of play.
Pheister is second in the conference averaging 12.64 assists per game, and Schulte is third for Ball State with a 3.08 kills per game average.
"They are going to look forward to going out and showing the people from their area how their game has advanced," Walton said.
No need for hotels
With the Eric Schulte's and Ethan Pheister's homes being close to the arena, the Cardinals will spend the night at the players' homes instead of sleeping in hotels.
Following the Milwaukee School of Engineering match, the Cardinals will play at Carthage College on Saturday. Carthage is located about one hour from Shorewood, Wisc.
Schulte said he is looking forward to seeing his family.
"It will be nice to go home and relax in a nice home environment again," he said. "I'm looking forward it to a lot."
Series history
Ball State is 3-0 all-time against the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In all three matches, the Cardinals have swept the Raiders, including their win last week at Worthen Arena.
Pheister going to career assist No. 2,000
Setter Ethan Pheister is 66 assists away from becoming the seventh player in Ball State history to have 2,000 career assists. Pheister is fourth in the MIVA with 278 assists this season. The junior needs 219 assists to pass Dave Carlson for sixth place on the Cardinals all-time career assists list.
Gasparovic going for the record books
Middle attacker J.D. Gasparovic is leading the MIVA with a .573 attack percentage. Paul Fasshauer holds the school record for highest single-season attack percentage with a .536 attack percentage in 2002. Gasparovic is also 13th in the conference with a 2.52 kills per game average.
Walton four away from win No. 200
In his 11th season as Ball State's head coach, Joel Walton is four wins away from career win No. 200 as he has a 196-108 record. If Ball State wins its two matches this weekend, Walton could have the opportunity get his milestone win at home next weekend with wins against IPFW and Loyola University.
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