David Polaski is a junior journalism and telecommunications major and writes ‘Dave’s Digs’ for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Write to David at dmpolaski@bsu.edu.
It’s time for Ball State to send a message.
The men’s volleyball team faces No. 1 Loyola at 7:30 tonight at Worthen Arena, the home of Midwest volleyball.
There’s no better time to tell the American Volleyball Coaches Association that the Cardinals have arrived. Knock off the No. 1 team, send Worthen Arena into a frenzy and make the country take notice.
It isn’t like the team doesn’t have the personnel. On offense, outside attacker Marcin Niemczewski leads the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in kills per set with 3.74.
Defensively, Ball State leads the MIVA in blocks per set with 3.67, with senior middle attacker Matt Leske ranked third in the conference and eighth in the country.
But there’s no doubt the Cardinals will be underdogs tonight. The Ramblers are a physical, punishing and lethal team. It’s a team that does everything right — Joe Smalzer leads the conference in aces with 33, Nicholas Olson leads it in blocks per set with 1.49 and two players are in the top 5 in kills per set.
Think Loyola has enough firepower?
Ball State has one advantage, one thing Loyola can’t even touch.
Tonight, Muncie isn’t the only place that will root for Ball State. The entire country will.
Teams ranked No. 2 through No. 5 or 6 will anticipate and celebrate every kill that Niemczewski and senior Larry Wrather throw down. When junior David Ryan Vander Meer lays out and digs an attack, every fan who wants to see Loyola fall will cheer.
All the fancy statistics that say Loyola will win mean nothing when Ball State is playing with the heart of the nation.
The players will have to play the match of their lives. The front line must consistently predict where the ball will be set and swarm to the pins at a moment’s notice. They can’t become discouraged when Loyola goes on a run and shows why it is ranked No. 1.
Instead, Ball State has to show the resiliency it showed against IPFW, Princeton and Lindenwood, when the team came back to win despite dropping the first set.
Opportunities can’t and won’t be wasted. When the situation arises, senior setter Graham McIlvaine has to catch the Loyola defense off guard with his quick dumps over the net. There can’t be the slightest bit of predictability from him. If there was ever a time for him to unleash one of his nightmare-inducing yells, it would be after Ball State’s first kill of the match.
He’d be sending a message to Loyola and to the country that Ball State isn’t backing down, isn’t afraid and is ready to make a push for a MIVA championship.
It’d be a yell that fuels the country’s hopes of seeing the upset of the season. One with so much emotion, passion and energy, that it can’t help but give his teammates the confidence they need to win.
Because when the match ends, there will be just one undefeated team left in the MIVA.
With the nation willing them to victory, it’ll be Ball State.
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