With the Ball State University men's volleyball team trailing by one-point late in game one, middle attacker Matt McCarthy did what he had so often done throughout his college career.
Connecting on a quick set from setter Ethan Pheister, the senior was able to hit over the St. Francis University blockers for his first kill of match.
Following the ball hitting the floor, McCarthy jokingly screamed as the Ball State players huddled together to celebrate the point that would start a 9-3 run to win the first game Saturday.
It was the type of play the preseason all-conference player was accustomed to making but has been prevented from doing almost this entire season.
After missing the majority of the season because of shoulder injuries and a back stress fracture, McCarthy returned to the Worthen Arena court for the team's final two regular season matches this weekend. Still struggling with back problems, though, McCarthy said the chance to play again was not completely enjoyable.
"It's amazing, and it's also disheartening," he said. "It's amazing because I forgot how much fun I had playing volleyball, and I love being out there with the guys, but it's really hard because I can't perform like I'm used to."
Entering the season, McCarthy's .414 attack percentage was the third-best career average in the program's 45-year history, and he had the fifth-most kills for Ball State in the rally scoring era.
Having not played since he came off the bench for a conference match in early March, McCarthy started Friday in place of middle attacker J.D. Gasparovic, who did not play because of an illness. In Ball State's (16-9, 6-4 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) three-game loss to No. 7 Penn State University, McCarthy finished the match with two kills.
Regardless of his statistics though, Walton said, he was happy to finally see McCarthy back on the court.
"It's always good," Walton said. "It was a big lift for our overall team and staff just to see him out playing again."
Walton said he knew McCarthy was not fully healthy when he started him against the defending national champion Nittany Lions. Despite McCarthy having jump served throughout his career, he float served to prevent his back from being further injured, Walton said.
Continuing to float serve in his second consecutive start, McCarthy played in all four games of a win against St. Francis on senior night. In his final regular season home match, McCarthy had five kills and .556 attack percentage.
McCarthy said it was nice for him to play and be a part of the victory on senior night. However, he also said the match was slightly sad for him as he prepares to graduate.
"I'm kind of bummed out," he said. "I'm going to miss all the guys on the team and stuff like that."
This was the fourth and fifth times McCarthy started a match this season. After missing the first three matches of the season with a shoulder injury, McCarthy returned to start the next three matches before injuring his back. The injury has also prevented McCarthy from participating in a majority of the team's practices this season.
Spending most of the season watching instead of playing, Walton said this weekend was important for McCarthy to reconnect with his teammates.
"I'm certain there has been times where he really hasn't felt like he's really part of the team this season because he's hasn't been playing," Walton said. "There have been other times where he has been great - on the bench, talking to our guys, leading them through matches and helping them understanding what they are seeing. Having him reconnect our group is going to very important."
One of the players to get the biggest advantage from McCarthy helping coach on the sidelines was Gasparovic, Walton said. As a sophomore, Gasparovic finished the regular season leading the conference with a .472 attack percentage and 120 blocks.
"[McCarthy's] good at seeing the game," Walton said. "His knowledge has been a huge benefit to J.D. Gasparovic."
With the regular season complete, Ball State will enter the MIVA Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will play its home quarterfinal match against last-place Quincy University on Saturday.
Walton said after Saturday's match that he did not know if McCarthy would start in the conference tournament. The coach said a doctor will be reevaluating Gasparovic this week and he will see how the middle attackers preform in practice before determining a stater.
For McCarthy, though, he said he would prefer not to be on the court if Gasparovic is healthy.
"I'm hoping for J.D. to come back," McCarthy said. "J.D. is having an amazing season. He's leading our team and carrying our team offensively so I really hope he comes back because he can go out there and do a better job than me. If I get to play later on it's nice, but I kind of want what's best for the team. With me out there, it's not best for the team right now."
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