Sometimes, feet work better than hands.
With his team leading in the fifth set 12-8, Ball State’s David Ryan Vander Meer charged the net.
An IPFW player threw down an attack. The ball connected with Vander Meer’s foot, sending it soaring over the net and back onto the opposing side.
It shouldn’t have surprised anybody, considering nearly everything went right for the libero of the Ball State men’s volleyball team.
“We came together as a team and we knew [IPFW] was trying to get in our heads,” Vander Meer said. “We played the game on our side of the net and took care of business.”
Vander Meer finished the night with a career high 22 digs, each one of them necessary for Ball State to knock off No. 14 IPFW in five sets 18-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-27, 15-10.
The win puts Ball State at 3-3 and 1-0 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
Midway through the first set, he was chasing after a pass headed out of bounds. He dove and slid hard into the first step of the stairwell that leads to the crowd. He raised his right arm and sent it crashing down onto the metal, the sound echoing throughout the arena.
He stood up and kept playing.
“He’s fearless; he’ll throw his body in front of anything,” Ball State head coach Joel Walton said. “He ignited our team with the ability we’ve always known he has.”
Against one of the strongest offenses in the country, Vander Meer kept himself in position throughout the night to make plays.
His willingness to give up his body to save the ball saved Ball State.
“We’ve been trying to impress on him balance, teaching that it’s not enough just to get the ball up,” Walton said. “He’s always had this ability and he let it show tonight.”
Trailing in the second set, Ball State’s defense showed new life, Vander Meer’s energy infectious to his teammates. Ball State took the second and third sets, giving them room for error.
IPFW brought five players into the match with at least 30 kills, using variety that could make any libero’s head spin.
The Mastodons would hit just .131 on the night, much due to Vander Meer’s efforts.
He received 29 serves, making one error against one of the strongest serving teams Ball State has faced this season.
With 1,040 fans screaming and throwing jeers at the Ball State players throughout the match, Vander Meer kept his cool and made diving digs, one after another.
In a match that saw a tied score 48 times, each save was important.
Including ones made with feet.
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