' Balls were flying in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center ballroom Friday night at the second annual table tennis tournament.
Matt Marshall, a coordinator of the event, put together this competition for The Association of College Union International.
Marshall and Alex Freeman were the officials enforcing the United States Table Tennis Association's rules.
Twenty-two males and three females fought over the wins on Friday and were competing for a qualifying spot for paid transportation and lodging to compete in the regional bracket of table tennis champs. The region for Ball State is number nine, so the winners would play the Indiana and Illinois college winners.
The rules were simple. Best out of five games played to eleven points, with a double elimination bracket.
Tyler Talsma, one of the participants, said he wasn't too stressed about winning, though.
'I don't care about winning,' Talsma said. 'I just want to play some good players. If I get to play the person who wins this thing and lose, I'll be completely satisfied.'
Talsma attended the event with two friends from his hometown. His friend David Sheets also was contending, and Zack Marvel said he was there just to watch.
Many of the players including Talsma and Sheets had a large support group around them. Peter Walker came to support his friend Gavin Manders.
'I learned to play from my dad, and I have played tennis for a while before this as well. I promise I'm going to regionals,' Manders said.
Regionals were on the minds of many of the students including last year's third place winner of the regional held at Northern Illinois University. Deb Roy has placed in many tournaments and felt he would do the same on Friday.
'Ping pong is the most important game,' Roy said. 'I play it all the time. I am actually from India and I played there too.'
Roy has placed more than once in this competition, including his third place finish and a fifth place finish.
The stands were filled with veteran players as well as some who were there just for the fun of the game.
Matt Jordan and Eric Seaman were smiling on the sidelines and made it clear that they were playing just for fun.
'I am not expecting to win anything. I won my first round and Eric lost his. That is because he is my apprentice and I am his master.'
Julia Buben, the runner up for the girls division, joined because she said she likes to participate in these kind of events.
'I signed up last year and lost,' she said. 'I feel like winning would be as good as getting an ice cream cone on a really hot day. I'd be really relieved and satisfied.'
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