There wasn't much of a debate for coach Joel Walton on whether to put the Ball State University men's volleyball team in his top 15 coaches poll ballot this week.
"You bet I did," Walton said when asked if he voted for his team this week.
Two days after defeating then-No. 13 Loyola University, Ball State moved up two spots to tie with UC San Diego at No. 13 in the newest coaches poll released Monday night.
Ball State returned to the top 15 rankings three weeks ago, despite Walton not voting for his team in that poll because he didn't feel his team earned to be ranked. Prior to this week's poll, the Cardinals had been No. 15 for three consecutive weeks.
Ball State (18-10, 7-5 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) received 47 votes — 18 more votes than in last week's poll — after finishing the weekend 1-1, including a three-game road loss to No. 10 Ohio State University.
"We are getting better and better as we approach the most important part of season," Walton said. "The win of Loyola in three games helps get us more respect from the poll voters and compliments our team's efforts."
Ball State finished the regular season as the No. 4 seed for the MIVA Tournament and will play the No. 5 seed IPFW in the quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Worthen Arena.
Walton said at this time in the season the rankings become less important because of the upcoming elimination matches.
"It's not the most important thing right now," he said. "The most important thing is the next match and the next opponent."
Walton is one of 16 voters in the coaches poll. The coach did not say where he ranked the Cardinals on his ballot this week.
Ball State was one of three MIVA teams ranked this week's poll.
With victories against Ball State and St. Francis University, Ohio State moved up one spot to No. 10 to remain the top ranked MIVA team. The Buckeyes (20-7, 11-1 MIVA) enter the conference tournament on a 10-match winning streak and have a bye to the conference tournament semifinals as the No. 1 seed.
Loyola (18-5, 10-2 MIVA) dropped two spots to No. 15 after its loss to Ball State. The Ramblers will play last-place Grand Canyon University Antelopes in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals at 8 p.m. Saturday in Chicago.
Coaches poll
1. Stanford (19-6) — 237 (13) votes
2. BYU (21-8) — 222 (2) votes
3. Cal State Northridge (21-8) — 210 (1) votes
4. Hawai'i (18-9) — 192 votes
5. Pepperdine (16-9) — 177 votes
6. USC (16-10) — 159 votes
T-7. UC Irvine (15-14) — 136 votes
T-7. UCLA (16-13) — 136 votes
9. UC Santa Barbara (13-16) — 105 votes
10. Ohio State (20-7) — 89 votes
11. Long Beach State (12-17) — 79 votes
12. Penn State (21-7) — 65 votes
T-13. Ball State (18-10) — 43 votes
T-13. UC San Diego (11-19) — 43 votes
15. Loyola (18-5) — 27 votes
Others receiving votes: Lewis 7 votes
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