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Friday, January 31
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7 p.m.
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Lucas Carter
Men’s Volleyball Hosts Ball State to Open Conference Schedule
1/30/2014 11:27:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
MATCH NOTES (.pdf)
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The 14th ranked IPFW men's volleyball team begins its Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) schedule when it hosts Ball State on Friday night inside the Gates Sports Center.
Opponent: Ball State Cardinals (2-3)
When: Friday, January 31, 2014 | 7 p.m. EST
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center (1,800)
All-Time Series: Ball State leads 65-26
Last Meeting: Ball State 3, IPFW 0 | Apr. 20, 2013 | Muncie, Ind.
Live Stats: IPFW Sidearm Live Stats
Live Video: Mastodon All-Access
QUICK HITTERS
- IPFW and Ball State were picked to finish fifth in the 2014 MIVA Preseason Coaches Poll
- The Mastodons maintained their position at No. 14 in the Week #4 edition of the AVCA Top 15 Poll
- IPFW leads the NCAA with a .364 hitting percentage and ranks second in kills per set at 13.79
- Sophomore Jeremy Swartz set career-highs in kills (11) and blocks (5) in IPFW's 3-1 win over Saint Francis
- The Cardinals are 0-3 in road matches this season
- Ball State Head Coach Joel Walton was named the MIVA Coach of the Year after leading his squad to a 21-6 record in 2013
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State is off to its slowest start since the 2011 season. The Cardinals began the year losing three of their first four matches before defeating McKendree last Friday night to end the skid.
After leading his squad to a 21-6 record a year ago and receiving the 2013 MIVA Coach of the Year award, Joel Walton saw his squad lose three First Team All-Conference selections is still looking for someone to fill the void.
Sophomore outside hitter Marcin Niemczewski has stepped in nicely, however, and is leading the way offensively for the Cardinals. Niemczewski has a team-best 55 kills and paces the MIVA with 3.86 kills per set.
Defensively, Preseason All-Conference selection Matt Leske and 2013 All-Conference pick Kevin Owens lead the team in blocks with 17 and 16, respectively.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Ball State holds a 65-26 record all-time against the Mastodons. The Cardinals have the longest winning streak of the series, taking 27 straight matches. The longest winning streak by the 'Dons is 11 from Mar. 23, 1991 to Apr. 23 1993. Ball State, however, has won each of the last two meetings between the two squads, including a 3-0 win in last year's MIVA Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
After suffering their first loss of the 2014 campaign Friday night, the 14th ranked IPFW men's volleyball team bounced back with a four set victory (25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19) over Saint Francis on Saturday, January 18 to wrap up their weekend road swing.
Andrew Sellan and Jeremy Swartz had 11 kills each to lead the way while Omar Rivera handed out 36 assists. Elon Fyfield and Sellan had two aces each as the Mastodons recorded six aces on the night.
In addition to his impressive offensive performance, Swartz was also a force on the defensive side, finishing the match with five blocks. Eddie Rivera and Omar Rivera added eight digs apiece.
For the match, IPFW had 49 kills compared to 47 by Saint Francis, and hit at a .371 clip while limiting the Red Flash to .250.
LEADING THE PACK
The Mastodons are not only leading the conference in hitting percentage this season, but the entire NCAA, attacking at a .364 clip. Junior Ramon Burgos has been an integral part of the IPFW offense averaging 3.50 kills per set with a .435 hitting percentage, which ranks third in the country.
'DONS SET FOR ROAD SWING
After their match against Ball State, the Mastodons will play their next four contests away from the Gates Sports Center. The road trip concludes with stops at MIVA foes Lindenwood and Quincy on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15.
AVCA NATIONAL POLL
For the fourth consecutive week, the Mastodons appeared in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top 15 Poll, holding steady at No. 14 in the Week #4 edition.
TOUGH COMPETITION
The 2014 schedule features two of the four NCAA Final Four teams from last season, Loyola and Penn State. Three MIVA teams, in addition to IPFW, also appeared in the AVCA Week #4 Top 15 Poll. Loyola (Ill.) climbed to No. 1, tied with UCLA at the top of the poll. Joining the Ramblers was Lewis at No. 10 followed by IPFW at No. 14 and Ohio State at No. 15.
ROAD WARRIORS
In addition to the tough competition IPFW will face in 2014, the Mastodons will be on the road for the majority of the first half of the season. Eight of the team's first 11 matches will be away from the Gates Sports Center, highlighted by a trip to University Park, Pa. on Jan. 17 where the 'Dons hooked up with perennial power Penn State.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The 14th ranked IPFW men's volleyball team begins its Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) schedule when it hosts Ball State on Friday night inside the Gates Sports Center.
Opponent: Ball State Cardinals (2-3)
When: Friday, January 31, 2014 | 7 p.m. EST
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center (1,800)
All-Time Series: Ball State leads 65-26
Last Meeting: Ball State 3, IPFW 0 | Apr. 20, 2013 | Muncie, Ind.
Live Stats: IPFW Sidearm Live Stats
Live Video: Mastodon All-Access
QUICK HITTERS
- IPFW and Ball State were picked to finish fifth in the 2014 MIVA Preseason Coaches Poll
- The Mastodons maintained their position at No. 14 in the Week #4 edition of the AVCA Top 15 Poll
- IPFW leads the NCAA with a .364 hitting percentage and ranks second in kills per set at 13.79
- Sophomore Jeremy Swartz set career-highs in kills (11) and blocks (5) in IPFW's 3-1 win over Saint Francis
- The Cardinals are 0-3 in road matches this season
- Ball State Head Coach Joel Walton was named the MIVA Coach of the Year after leading his squad to a 21-6 record in 2013
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State is off to its slowest start since the 2011 season. The Cardinals began the year losing three of their first four matches before defeating McKendree last Friday night to end the skid.
After leading his squad to a 21-6 record a year ago and receiving the 2013 MIVA Coach of the Year award, Joel Walton saw his squad lose three First Team All-Conference selections is still looking for someone to fill the void.
Sophomore outside hitter Marcin Niemczewski has stepped in nicely, however, and is leading the way offensively for the Cardinals. Niemczewski has a team-best 55 kills and paces the MIVA with 3.86 kills per set.
Defensively, Preseason All-Conference selection Matt Leske and 2013 All-Conference pick Kevin Owens lead the team in blocks with 17 and 16, respectively.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Ball State holds a 65-26 record all-time against the Mastodons. The Cardinals have the longest winning streak of the series, taking 27 straight matches. The longest winning streak by the 'Dons is 11 from Mar. 23, 1991 to Apr. 23 1993. Ball State, however, has won each of the last two meetings between the two squads, including a 3-0 win in last year's MIVA Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
After suffering their first loss of the 2014 campaign Friday night, the 14th ranked IPFW men's volleyball team bounced back with a four set victory (25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19) over Saint Francis on Saturday, January 18 to wrap up their weekend road swing.
Andrew Sellan and Jeremy Swartz had 11 kills each to lead the way while Omar Rivera handed out 36 assists. Elon Fyfield and Sellan had two aces each as the Mastodons recorded six aces on the night.
In addition to his impressive offensive performance, Swartz was also a force on the defensive side, finishing the match with five blocks. Eddie Rivera and Omar Rivera added eight digs apiece.
For the match, IPFW had 49 kills compared to 47 by Saint Francis, and hit at a .371 clip while limiting the Red Flash to .250.
LEADING THE PACK
The Mastodons are not only leading the conference in hitting percentage this season, but the entire NCAA, attacking at a .364 clip. Junior Ramon Burgos has been an integral part of the IPFW offense averaging 3.50 kills per set with a .435 hitting percentage, which ranks third in the country.
'DONS SET FOR ROAD SWING
After their match against Ball State, the Mastodons will play their next four contests away from the Gates Sports Center. The road trip concludes with stops at MIVA foes Lindenwood and Quincy on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15.
AVCA NATIONAL POLL
For the fourth consecutive week, the Mastodons appeared in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top 15 Poll, holding steady at No. 14 in the Week #4 edition.
TOUGH COMPETITION
The 2014 schedule features two of the four NCAA Final Four teams from last season, Loyola and Penn State. Three MIVA teams, in addition to IPFW, also appeared in the AVCA Week #4 Top 15 Poll. Loyola (Ill.) climbed to No. 1, tied with UCLA at the top of the poll. Joining the Ramblers was Lewis at No. 10 followed by IPFW at No. 14 and Ohio State at No. 15.
ROAD WARRIORS
In addition to the tough competition IPFW will face in 2014, the Mastodons will be on the road for the majority of the first half of the season. Eight of the team's first 11 matches will be away from the Gates Sports Center, highlighted by a trip to University Park, Pa. on Jan. 17 where the 'Dons hooked up with perennial power Penn State.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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