Starting outside attackers Todd Chamberlain and Partick Durbin have waited long enough to play against UCLA.
Since last season, the No. 14 Ball State University men's volleyball team is 0-3 against No. 7 UCLA. However, this weekend's matches mark the first time the Cardinals' two leaders in kills will be on the court against the Bruins.
"They still haven't played live against those guys and it should be a potential advantage for us," Ball State coach Joel Walton said. "There is always a difference between watching someone on tape and trying to put your game plan in against the team until they actually see that shot in front of them."
Chamberlain did not play in the two matches against UCLA last season because he was serving a 30-day suspension, and he missed the Jan. 3 match at the Outrigger Tournament in Hawaii because of a hamstring injury, Walton said. Also, Durbin did not play in three matches because he was academically ineligible.
Durbin leads the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association with an average of 4.25 kills per game, and Chamberlain is third on the team with a 2.73 kills per game average.
"They don't have any film on myself or Pat," Chamberlain said. "That might be towards our advantage."
Durbin said the lack of firsthand experience benefits the team but also has a negative effect on him.
"It's a disadvantage for me personally because I don't know what to expect, but them not having seen me is a slight advantage," he said.
Without Durbin or Chamberlain in the lineup, Ball State had an attack percentage of less than .200 in two of the four games during the loss to UCLA this year.
Bruins coach Al Scates said attempting to scout Ball State from that match in Hawaii is useless because the Cardinals are a different team with Durbin and Chamberlain in the lineup.
"There is no point for us look at that game film because their key players were missing," Scates said. "We'll just have to figure out what adjustments to make during the match."
Chamberlain said without UCLA having any advanced scouting on Durbin and himself, the two outside attackers have a better chance to put up big offensive numbers, especially in the first game of Friday's match.
In Ball State's last two matches against nationally ranked teams, Chamberlain and Durbin accounted for more than 50 percent of the Cardinals' kills.
"Pat and Todd are starting to find their stride," Walton said. "Todd needs cut down on a few of his serving errors, and Pat has been playing great for us and is being our leader."
Setter Ethan Pheister said he usually sets a large amount of balls to Chamberlain and Durbin, regardless of who they are playing. He also said the most important thing for the Cardinals is to have a balanced offensive attack.
"I don't think we have to change our game plan," Pheister said. "If we go on out there and play how we are suppose to and get McCarthy the ball and getting Pat and Todd the ball, we should be able to win pretty easily."
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