Two teams that finished in the top five national rankings last season will come to Worthen Arena for the 2010 season.
The Ball State University men's volleyball team Wednesday released its schedule for the upcoming season and will have 13 home matches, including two matches against Cal State Northridge University and a match against Penn State University.
Cal State Northridge will play Ball State at Worthen Arena on March 26 and March 27 in the Don Shondell Active Ankle Challenge. The Matodors finished last season No. 4 in the coaches poll and lost in its conference tournament semifinals. In addition, 7-foot All-American middle attacker Jacek Ratajczak is returning for his senior season after being fourth in the nation with a .468 attack percentage.
Coach Joel Walton said he has tried for the last few seasons to get Cal State Northridge for a home match. He also said these matches will be a non-conference challenge for his players.
"They return a good roster," Walton said. "It will be competitive matches. Our guys are already looking forward to [them]."
Ball State's home match against Penn State will be April 1. This will be the second match the two teams will play this season with Cardinals traveling to University Park, Pa., for a match Feb. 19.
Penn State advanced to the NCAA semifinals before losing to the University of Southern California in May and finished the 2009 season No. 5.
For the second consecutive season, Ball State was eliminated in the conference tournament championship season in May and ended the season ranked in the top 15 coaches poll. The Cardinals return six starters from last season's team, including All-American middle attacker J.D. Gasparovic and senior all-conference setter Ethan Pheister.
Ball State's 2010 scheduleJan. 15 at Loyola*Jan. 16 at CarthageJan. 17 at Milawukee School of EngineeringJan. 21 vs. Grand Canyon*Jan. 22 vs. CarthageJan. 29 vs. George MasonJan. 30 vs. Rutgers-NewarkFeb. 5 vs. Ohio State*Feb. 12 at Quincy*Feb. 13 at Quincy*Feb. 19 at Penn StateFeb. 20 at St. FrancisFeb. 25 vs. IPFW*Feb. 26 vs. Lewis*March 9 at Grand Canyon*March 10 at UCLAMarch 11 at PepperdineMarch 19 at George MasonMarch 20 at Rutgers-NewarkMarch 26 vs. Cal State NorthridgeMarch 27 vs. Cal State NorthridgeApril 1 vs. Penn StateApril 3 at IPFW*April 6 at Lewis*April 9 vs. King CollegeApril 10 vs. St. FrancisApril 16 at Ohio State*April 17 vs. Loyola*
*denotes MIVA match
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