Coach Joel Walton said he would not consider Friday's match a must-win, but it would be difficult for the Ball State University men's volleyball team to win the conference without a victory.
Trailing No. 8 Ohio State University by two-and-a-half matches in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association standings, the Cardinals will play the first-place Buckeyes at 7:30 p.m. at Worthen Arena.
"We would back ourselves into a corner if we lose the match," Walton said. "Friday gets us into a position where we are definitely in the race, but if we lose then we have a lot of work to do and we have to win some very tough matches on the road."
Ball State (7-6, 2-1 MIVA) is tied with IPFW for third place in the MIVA and are also tied for the fewest amount of conference matches played.
Ohio State coach Pete Hanson said a win Friday would help the Buckeyes (7-2, 5-0 MIVA) reach their goal of repeating as MIVA regular-season champions. However, he also said with most MIVA teams beginning to play their MIVA matches, his team doesn't think they are pulling away from the rest of the conference.
"It's still so early that no one is really going to separate themselves yet," Hanson said. "I like to think that [Ball State] approaches the match like we do, that you have to defend the home court."
This match will be the first time the two teams will play each other since Ohio State defeated Ball State in the MIVA Tournament semi-finals last season.
Walton said both teams have made significant changes since their last match in April.
However, libero Ian Peckler said Ball State has extra motivation for the match because of the loss to Ohio State.
"We want to revenge that loss," Peckler said. "With an upset of them that would kind of send the message that Ball State is for real."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
