Fast pace offense is something the Ball State University men's volleyball team doesn't experience often during a season, expect for when it plays Penn State University.
The No. 15 Cardinals (1-0) will play the No. 8 Nittany Lions (0-0) at 7:30 p.m. today in Worthen Arena.
"With Penn State there is an adjustment," coach Joel Walton said. "They run their offense with a fast tempo, and their setter sets a quick ball. Our blockers have to be ready."
Last season, the fast tempo offense helped the Nittany Lions advance to the NCAA Finals, before they lost to the University of California at Los Angeles in the championship game.
Playing Penn State is a challenge because adjusting to the Nittany Lions' offense is something that has to be done first-hand, and is tough to prepare for in practice, Walton said.
"We've been telling our players this and showing tape to get ready, but it's an adjustment you make when you play them," he said.
In two matches during the 2006 season, Ball State and Penn State split the series.
In the first match, the Cardinals won in three sets (32-30, 30-28, 30-28). Penn State won the second match in five games (19-30, 26-30, 30-26, 30-28, 15-11).
However, for Walton, last year's statistics against the Nittany Lions are irrelevant entering tonight's game.
"That was last season and this is a totally different year, with different players on both teams," Walton said.
One change for both squads entering this season are new starting setters.
For Ball State, freshman Ethan Pheister replaced graduate Dave Carlson. In the first game of the season, Pheister had 29 assists and two service aces against Clarke College.
On the other side, junior Luke Murray will be the new starting setter for Penn State. Last season, Murray played in 27 matches and averaged 8.13 assists per game.
With Pheister five inches taller than Murray, Ball State has an advantage it didn't have a year ago, Walton said.
"It's an interesting change in setters," Walton said. "We went from a team with a short setter to a tall setter, and [Penn State] had the opposite switch. Hopefully we can take advantage of that."
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