For the last four days of practice coach Joel Walton's biggest concern was preparing his team to stop IPFW outside attacker C.J. Macias.
Two weeks after the No. 7 Ball State University men's volleyball team defeated IPFW with Macias having a match-high 20 kills, the Cardinals will play the Mastodons at 7:30 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
"Seeing him play on tape he seemed to struggle, but he had a great night against us," Walton said. "Part of that was playing at home, and part was him realizing how important that match was to his team. He responded to that challenge. We really have to get ready for that focus and mentality on Friday night."
Macias, a 2007 second-team All-American, is third in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association averaging 3.87 kills per game. In matches against Ball State (14-6, 7-1 MIVA) during the last three seasons, he is averaging 19.3 kills per match.
Walton said his team will change the way it sets up its block and move players to different locations on the court to prevent Macias from getting kills. All the changes are tactical, and there will not be any starting lineup changes from the first time Ball State played IPFW, Walton said.
The Mastodons (9-8, 3-4 MIVA) are fourth in the MIVA with an average .265 attack percentage this season, .010 percent better than Ball State's attack percentage.
Libero Ian Peckler said making good serves will result in Macias and the IPFW offense struggling in Friday's match.
"They are not a really good passing team," Peckler said. "They do have some of the best attackers in the conference, but you can't use those weapons unless you have people who can pass."
Ball State and No. 10 Ohio State University are tied for first place in the MIVA, with the Cardinals having the tiebreaker because of their win against the Buckeyes earlier this season. IPFW is in fourth place and three-and-half matches back of Ball State.
Following its IPFW match, Ball State will have three conference matches remaining in the regular season, including a road match against Ohio State on April 10.
Outside attacker Patrick Durbin said despite becoming closer to the team's goal of winning its first MIVA regular season championship since 2002, the Cardinals can't overlook their match against the Mastodons.
"It's going to be a war this Friday," Durbin said. "They are ready for us and they are going to give us everything we can handle."
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