In many sports, playing five games in nine days can be a grueling and fatiguing experience.
Even though that's exactly what the Ball State men's volleyball team faces this weekend, a fortunate break may help offset any exhaustion.
Ball State faces a rematch with a George Mason team at home tonight at 7:30 that will likely be missing its star outside attacker, junior Mark Jones. The match comes a day before Ball State's rematch with St. Francis on Saturday, also at 7:30 p.m.
Jones was named an all-conference first team player in 2011 after he ranked nationally in several categories, including fifth in in kills per game and 22nd in service aces per game.
George Mason confirmed by email to the Daily News on Wednesday that Jones has been dealing with an unspecified injury since the start of the season. Coach Fred Chao is unsure when Jones will return to action.
The absence of Jones last Saturday may have helped Ball State capture a close 3-2 victory over George Mason in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
The Cardinals could also benefit this weekend from a consistent starting lineup that rolled over Sacred Heart on Wednesday for a 3-0 sweep. Sophomore setter Graham McIlvaine said after the match that he was becoming comfortable with the current set of players on the court.
After starting in only his third career match on Wednesday, freshman outside attacker Shane Witmer is once again expected to start both matches this weekend.
"Right now, [Witmer's] our starter," coach Joel Walton said.
When asked what he likes about Witmer on the court, Walton recounted a play by Witmer in the Sacred Heart match that impressed him.
"The play that sticks in my mind was late in game three, our block finally gets a good touch, it goes to Shane in the backrow and he makes a really nice dig," Walton said. "But it wasn't just the fact that he dug the ball. He put it right where it needed to go with Graham standing beside him so that Graham could comfortably move in and get a nice set out that we converted for a point.
"Those kinds of things, just the court awareness that Shane has is a little bit beyond his freshman years on the court. And that's very valuable to our team."
Although Walton has maintained a short leash in the past with Ball State's outside attackers, he said he was pleased with the position right now.
It helps that several anxious players are waiting on the bench behind the starters.
"I know [Jeff] Aucoin wants to be out there, and Jeff can do some pretty impressive things," Walton said. "[Matt Sutherland] played offensively very well against St. Francis this last weekend. David Ryan Vander Meer, we've seen that kid – you put him in a competitive situation and he does great things, even though he's only 5'9."
With so many different players vying for time on the court, fatigue could become a non-issue as competition keeps each player anxious and prepared.
For more Ball State men's volleyball coverage, follow @andrewmishler on Twitter.
Ball State vs. George Mason
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Worthen Arena
Radio: 91.3 WCRD
Projected starting lineup
Middle attackers: Matt Leske, Kevin Owens
Outside attackers: Larry Wrather, Shane Witmer
Right-side attacker: Jamion Hartley
Libero: Tommy Rouse
Setter: Graham McIlvaine
Prediction: Ball State wins 3-1
This is pretty bold considering George Mason just took Ohio State to five games yesterday, but they are probably more tired than Ball State at this point since they're traveling this week. George Mason has played fairly well even with the loss of Mark Jones, but Ball State has improved since last week. Hartley is playing the way the coaching staff wants him to play, Leske and Owens are doing well and McIlvaine has obviously improved since last season. This should be Ball State's for the taking on its home court.
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