Ball State is coming off its first victory against a ranked team this season, sweeping No. 3 California State University Northridge on Saturday. Coach Joel Walton, however, doesn't want his team to stop there.
After outside attacker Larry Wrather scored match point with a solo block, Ball State's bench cleared to celebrate on the court as the fans at Worthen Arena gave a standing ovation. It was the biggest celebration men's volleyball players had experienced this season.
The feeling of knocking off a top-five team was something the Ball State University middle attacker had never experienced in his career. It was even more meaningful to Nelson, though, because he out-played an All-American in the process of securing one of the biggest upsets in Ball State's 46-year program history.
Ball State went from being swept by No. 3 Cal State Northridge on Friday night to returning the favor by sweeping the Matadors 30-24, 30-28, 30-22 Saturday night in Worthen Arena. It was Ball State's first victory against a ranked opponent in six attempts this season and the first time the Cardinals have defeated a top-five ranked team since defeating then-No. 4 IPFW in February 1999.
Coach Joel Walton schemed everything right to prevent Cal State Northridge's All-American middle attacker Jacek Ratajczak from having a big night. The coach and Ball State, though, just couldn't stop the other starting middle attacker Kevin McKniff in the three-game loss.
The Matadors went on a 16-7 run to close out game one after being down 15-14. History repeated itself in game two with tied score of 11 all before the Matadors ended the match on a 19-13 spurt.
No. 3 California State University Northridge has not loss to school out of the rankings all year, but Ball State University coach Joel Walton still has high hopes tonight at Worthen Arena.
Cal State Northridge (15-6) was No. 1 in the country earlier in the season. Ball State (12-7) is looking to win its first match against a ranked team this year. Everyone on the Cardinals agrees that a raucous crowd will be needed to knock off the Matadors.
Ball State coach Joel 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.
Ball State will be in action Friday against George Mason University followed by another road match at Rutgers-Newark University on Saturday.
The Ball State women's volleyball coaching position became vacant March 3 when former coach Dave Boos resigned to become an assistant coach with the University of Florida. Boos was officially hired by Florida yesterday.
Burris girl's volleyball coach Steve Shondell was rumored to meet with Ball State athletics director Tom Collins Tuesday morning to discuss the opening, but Collins said Tuesday afternoon that those reports were just that: rumors.
Former Ball State University women's volleyball coach Dave Boos was announced as an assistant coach for the University of Florida on Monday, almost two weeks after resigning at Ball State.
Nothing crazy happened to the Ball State University's men's volleyball team over Spring Break, as the Cardinals won the match they were favored in and lost their two matches going in as the underdogs.
Ball State drops to 10-6 (4-4 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) and will conclude their west coast swing at No. 2 Pepperdine University tonight.
As Burris' head coach, Shondell has won 13 consecutive Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 2A championships and finished the 2009 season undefeated, including a sweep in the state championship match at Worthen Arena.
Boos completed his third season as the Cardinals' coach Nov. 20, 2009 with a 3-1 loss to Ohio University in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals. He had compiled a 32-62 (17-31 MAC) career record at Ball State.
Ball State will play Grand Canyon, UCLA and Pepperdine on its Spring Break trip.
For continuing updates on this story, check back with bsudailynews.com, and for complete coverage, check out tomorrow's edition of The Ball State Daily News.
The loss drops Ball State to 9-5 (3-4 MIVA) and 0-4 against ranked opponents this season.
