Friday, February 10
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7:00 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Ohio State
Photo by: Lucas Carter
IPFW Welcomes #8 Ohio State, Cardinal Stritch to the Gates Sports Center
2/9/2012 9:12:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - At 6-3 overall and 1-0 MIVA play, the IPFW men's volleyball team will host #8 Ohio State (Feb. 10) and Cardinal Stritch (Feb. 11) this weekend at the Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne. Both matches start promptly at 7:00 p.m. EST.
WHERE: Fort Wayne, Ind. (Gates Sports Center)
WHEN: Ohio State (Feb. 10, 7 p.m.) and Cardinal Stritch (Feb. 11, 7 p.m.)
AUDIO: IPFW vs. Ohio State will stream live on ESPN Radio 1380
VIDEO: IPFW All-Access (both matches)
BACK FOR MORE
The IPFW men's volleyball team returns to the court for a 32rd season, all under the direction of legendary head coach Arnie Ball. In 2012, IPFW welcomes back five starters from last season's squad that finished 16-12 overall and 5-7 in the MIVA, leading to a fifth place finish in the conference standings. On offense, outside hitters senior Ivan Matos, senior Jonathan Meyer, junior Elon Fyfield, junior Phil Peterson and sophomore Eddie Rivera will lead the 'Don attack, as each is capable of hitting for double-digit kill totals. Middle hitters senior Corey Frain and junior Rob Samp, along with sophomore libero JW Kieckhefer will anchor the Mastodon defense in 2012. Freshman Omar Rivera will see his first action at setter on the IPFW offense.
LAST TIME OUT
Senior Ivan Matos blasted a career-high 21 kills, while freshman Omar Rivera tallied a career-best 57 assists, as the IPFW men's volleyball team took down #6 Lewis in five sets on Feb. 3 at the Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. IPFW improves to 6-3 (1-0 MIVA) this season with the win. Eddie Rivera notched 13 kills, Corey Frain totaled nine and Bryan Saunders came away with six. JW Kieckhefer tallied 13 digs. Jay Petty of Lewis managed a game-high 22 kills in the loss.
MATOS EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior outside hitter Ivan Matos was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Men's Division I-II National Player of the Week and MIVA Offensive Player of the Week. He wins both awards for the first time in his Mastodon career. Against #6 Lewis, Matos blasted a career-high 21 kills in four sets of action, totaling eight kills alone in the second frame. He also tallied two digs and a block in the win. A preseason All-MIVA selection, Matos leads IPFW with 111 kills, while managing a .236 hitting percentage in nine matches this season. He ranks sixth in the conference with a .338 kills per set average. The last time an IPFW player earned national player of the week honors was back on Jan. 16, 2007, when C.J. Macias brought home the hardware to Fort Wayne.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
The defending national champion #8 Ohio State Buckeyes stand at 8-4 (1-0) this season, earning wins over #14 Santa Barbara, George Mason, St. Francis (PA) and #12 Pacific. With 11 returning letterwinners, the Buckeyes are set to make another deep run in the MIVA Tournament, led by head coach Pete Hanson, who is in his 28th season. With 200 kills and 79 digs, All-MIVA preseason selection Shawn Sangrey leads the Ohio State offense, alongside Mik Berzins, who has notched 96 kills and 77 digs. Setter Peter Heinen has distributed 375 assists. Th e Buckeyes have only played one true road game this season, coming against #14 Santa Barbara (W, 3-2). Ohio State is 63-33 all-time against IPFW.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
With a 10-7 overall mark, Cardinal Stritch enters the Gates Sports Center this weekend ranked ninth in the NAIA Top 10 Coaches Poll. However, the Wolves have dropped four of their last five matches. Balanced on the offensive end, the Wolves are led by outside Adam Cosson, who leads the squad with 118 kills. Teammate Noah Mader is close behind with 92 kills, while Jake Daniel has tagged 81. The Wolves are 5-2 on the road this season. Dave Schmidlin is in his third season as head coach. Cardinal Stritch is 0-2 all-time against IPFW.
IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE
IPFW has won three-straight matches and six of its last seven heading into this weekend's matches with Ohio State and Cardinal Stritch. The Mastodons are 2-1 at home in 2012.
EARNING VOTES
Beating a nationally-ranked opponent paid dividends for the Mastodons this week as witnessed in the latest AVCA Top-15 National Coaches Poll. The 'Dons picked up five votes in the poll, sitting just behind Pacific for 15th place. UCLA remains the top team in the country, followed by UC-Irvine and BYU to round out the top three spots.
PRESEASON SELECTIONS
The Mastodons were picked to finish sixth in the 2012 MIVA Preseason Coaches Poll. Loyola was selected as the conference favorite, followed by Ohio State, Lewis, Ball State, and Quincy. Grand Canyon finished one spot behind IPFW for seventh place. Mastodon senior outside hitter Ivan Matos was selected to the preseason all-conference team.
AROUND THE MIVA
With 1-0 MIVA records, IPFW and Loyola sit atop the league standings... Quincy leads the MIVA in total wins with 10...Three teams are ranked in the top-25 national poll: Lewis (7), Ohio State (8), Loyola (t12).
MINI TEAM NOTES
On March 26, 2011, Arnie Ball earned win No. 500 against Carthage at the Gates Sports Center. In 32 seasons, Ball has amassed a 509-374 overall record, while guiding IPFW to six NCAA Final Four appearances and six MIVA titles...The Mastodon roster is made up of 26 players, including six seniors, four juniors, six sophomores and 10 freshmen.
GATES GETS A FACELIFT
Out with old in with the new. The Hilliard Gates Sports Center now off ers seat-back chairs and white painted walls in the 1,900 seat gymnasium. In addition, a new indoor track, fitness center, weightroom and wellness center make up the storied building that has been called the home of IPFW Athletics since 1981.
~Feel the Rumble~
WHERE: Fort Wayne, Ind. (Gates Sports Center)
WHEN: Ohio State (Feb. 10, 7 p.m.) and Cardinal Stritch (Feb. 11, 7 p.m.)
AUDIO: IPFW vs. Ohio State will stream live on ESPN Radio 1380
VIDEO: IPFW All-Access (both matches)
BACK FOR MORE
The IPFW men's volleyball team returns to the court for a 32rd season, all under the direction of legendary head coach Arnie Ball. In 2012, IPFW welcomes back five starters from last season's squad that finished 16-12 overall and 5-7 in the MIVA, leading to a fifth place finish in the conference standings. On offense, outside hitters senior Ivan Matos, senior Jonathan Meyer, junior Elon Fyfield, junior Phil Peterson and sophomore Eddie Rivera will lead the 'Don attack, as each is capable of hitting for double-digit kill totals. Middle hitters senior Corey Frain and junior Rob Samp, along with sophomore libero JW Kieckhefer will anchor the Mastodon defense in 2012. Freshman Omar Rivera will see his first action at setter on the IPFW offense.
LAST TIME OUT
Senior Ivan Matos blasted a career-high 21 kills, while freshman Omar Rivera tallied a career-best 57 assists, as the IPFW men's volleyball team took down #6 Lewis in five sets on Feb. 3 at the Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. IPFW improves to 6-3 (1-0 MIVA) this season with the win. Eddie Rivera notched 13 kills, Corey Frain totaled nine and Bryan Saunders came away with six. JW Kieckhefer tallied 13 digs. Jay Petty of Lewis managed a game-high 22 kills in the loss.
MATOS EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior outside hitter Ivan Matos was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Men's Division I-II National Player of the Week and MIVA Offensive Player of the Week. He wins both awards for the first time in his Mastodon career. Against #6 Lewis, Matos blasted a career-high 21 kills in four sets of action, totaling eight kills alone in the second frame. He also tallied two digs and a block in the win. A preseason All-MIVA selection, Matos leads IPFW with 111 kills, while managing a .236 hitting percentage in nine matches this season. He ranks sixth in the conference with a .338 kills per set average. The last time an IPFW player earned national player of the week honors was back on Jan. 16, 2007, when C.J. Macias brought home the hardware to Fort Wayne.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
The defending national champion #8 Ohio State Buckeyes stand at 8-4 (1-0) this season, earning wins over #14 Santa Barbara, George Mason, St. Francis (PA) and #12 Pacific. With 11 returning letterwinners, the Buckeyes are set to make another deep run in the MIVA Tournament, led by head coach Pete Hanson, who is in his 28th season. With 200 kills and 79 digs, All-MIVA preseason selection Shawn Sangrey leads the Ohio State offense, alongside Mik Berzins, who has notched 96 kills and 77 digs. Setter Peter Heinen has distributed 375 assists. Th e Buckeyes have only played one true road game this season, coming against #14 Santa Barbara (W, 3-2). Ohio State is 63-33 all-time against IPFW.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
With a 10-7 overall mark, Cardinal Stritch enters the Gates Sports Center this weekend ranked ninth in the NAIA Top 10 Coaches Poll. However, the Wolves have dropped four of their last five matches. Balanced on the offensive end, the Wolves are led by outside Adam Cosson, who leads the squad with 118 kills. Teammate Noah Mader is close behind with 92 kills, while Jake Daniel has tagged 81. The Wolves are 5-2 on the road this season. Dave Schmidlin is in his third season as head coach. Cardinal Stritch is 0-2 all-time against IPFW.
IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE
IPFW has won three-straight matches and six of its last seven heading into this weekend's matches with Ohio State and Cardinal Stritch. The Mastodons are 2-1 at home in 2012.
EARNING VOTES
Beating a nationally-ranked opponent paid dividends for the Mastodons this week as witnessed in the latest AVCA Top-15 National Coaches Poll. The 'Dons picked up five votes in the poll, sitting just behind Pacific for 15th place. UCLA remains the top team in the country, followed by UC-Irvine and BYU to round out the top three spots.
PRESEASON SELECTIONS
The Mastodons were picked to finish sixth in the 2012 MIVA Preseason Coaches Poll. Loyola was selected as the conference favorite, followed by Ohio State, Lewis, Ball State, and Quincy. Grand Canyon finished one spot behind IPFW for seventh place. Mastodon senior outside hitter Ivan Matos was selected to the preseason all-conference team.
AROUND THE MIVA
With 1-0 MIVA records, IPFW and Loyola sit atop the league standings... Quincy leads the MIVA in total wins with 10...Three teams are ranked in the top-25 national poll: Lewis (7), Ohio State (8), Loyola (t12).
MINI TEAM NOTES
On March 26, 2011, Arnie Ball earned win No. 500 against Carthage at the Gates Sports Center. In 32 seasons, Ball has amassed a 509-374 overall record, while guiding IPFW to six NCAA Final Four appearances and six MIVA titles...The Mastodon roster is made up of 26 players, including six seniors, four juniors, six sophomores and 10 freshmen.
GATES GETS A FACELIFT
Out with old in with the new. The Hilliard Gates Sports Center now off ers seat-back chairs and white painted walls in the 1,900 seat gymnasium. In addition, a new indoor track, fitness center, weightroom and wellness center make up the storied building that has been called the home of IPFW Athletics since 1981.
~Feel the Rumble~
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