On the same night that setter Ethan Pheister got his 100th career ace, he also reached a more dubious milestone.
With five service errors in the No. 15 Ball State University men's volleyball team's sweep against St. Francis University on Saturday, the senior starter became the first player in program history during the rally scoring era to have 100 service errors in a single season.
The previous program record was held by outside attacker Marcus Imwalle, who had 88 service errors as a freshman in 2008. Pheister surpassed Imwalle earlier this week in the team's five-game victory against Lewis University.
Despite having 40 more serving errors than anyone on the team, Pheister will continue to use the jump serve in the team's final two regular season matches and in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament, coach Joel Walton said.
"I'm OK with Ethan being more aggressive," Walton said. "When he serves, he can serve a ball with good pace."
Walton said he is more concerned about the aces Pheister is getting as a jump server. The coach said if Pheister has a aces-to-error ratio of 1-to-2 or 1-to-3 he is doing a good job.
Pheister, a two-time All-MIVA Team member, is third in the conference with 33 aces. He is also one of two Ball State players to have at least 100 career aces during the rally scoring era.
Pheister's 100 service errors is third worst in the conference.
Grand Canyon University's Brock Hutchins leads the MIVA with 144 service errors, but he has played in 11 more matches than Pheister.
Ball State's next match will be against first-place No. 13 Ohio State University at 7 p.m. Friday in Columbus, Ohio. In the Cardinals three-game loss to the Buckeyes earlier this season, Pheister finished the match with zero aces and five service errors.
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