After almost three months and 20 matches, coach Joel Walton has finally settled on his two starting left outside attackers.
Walton said Saturday that outside attackers Lee Meyer and Larry Wrather will be the team's permanent starters following their performances during the Ball State University men's volleyball team's two road matches this weekend.
"They have played consistently," Walton said. "This [road] trip, they have done things we need to do to win."
Meyer and Wrather led Ball State in kills in non-conference victories against George Mason University and Rutgers-Newark University. Wrather had a career-high 16 kills in the four-game win against the Patriots, and Meyer had a match-high 14 kills in the sweep against the Scarlet Raiders.
Ball State (12-7, 4-4 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) has used seven starting left outside attacker combinations this season, including starting Meyer and Wrather at times this season.
Meyer, a junior, has started 14 matches and is second on the team with a 2.96 kills per game average. Wrather, a freshman, started his first match this weekend since Feb. 12 and is averaging 1.32 kills per game.
Along with the offense, Walton said he has been impressed with Meyer and Wrather's defense and passing abilities.
"Larry gives us a lot of good energy," Walton said. "Lee is our terminal on the left side. Teams are struggling defending him."
The coach said he plans to start the two left outside attackers in Ball State's match against No. 3 Cal State Northridge on Friday at Worthen Arena. Despite being winless against nationally ranked teams this season, Walton said Ball State is entering this home match playing its best volleyball.
"We are starting to make strides and we are making progress," he said. "We are talented enough to win, and we just have to do the things necessary."
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