2008 saw seven seniors depart from a very accomplished team that unfortunately saw their season cut short in the first round of the MIVA Tournament. That group saw two Final Fours and multiple All-Conference recognitions. Some might say a true test of a coach is not what he does with an experienced team but how he matures an unexperienced team.

The 2009 roster is certainly that, as it features several new freshman and only one true senior that's played his career at IPFW in libero Mike Morici. The 2009 campaign could answer a lot of questions about how the young new core will develop over the coming seasons!

Ball reached a career mile-stone in 2005 as he eclipsed the 400 career win mark. Only three other collegiate coaches have more wins than Ball, who is entering his 29th year at the helm of the Mastodons.

This type of success should be nothing new to IPFW men's volleyball fans. Under Ball's leadership, the Mastodons have won seven Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Championships, produced 15 NCAA All-Americans, two Olympians (Lloy Ball winning gold in the Summer '08 games), six MIVA Conference Players of the Year, and countless All-Conference Performers. Ball has also taken six teams to the NCAA Final Four, finishing fourth in 1992 and 1994 and taking third place in 1991, 1999, 2006 and 2007.

In 28 years at IPFW, Ball has a career record of 471-329. In November of 2005, Ball was honored by the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation. Ball was presented with the prestigious Hilliard Gates achievement award for lifetime accomplishments and contributions to the sporting community of Fort Wayne.

Ball also was the first head coach of the women's volleyball program at IPFW. From 1981-1988, IPFW won the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) four times and earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1987 and 1988. He ended his eight-year run with an overall record of 231-102.

Ball also has a wealth of International coaching experience.

In 2003, USA volleyball called upon Ball to lead a young and inexperienced U.S. World University Team at the games in Daegu, South Korea. Ball's team responded with a number of impressive wins, including a marathon five-set match, over France, that clinched the team a Bronze Medal.

In 1983, Ball served as head coach of the North Squad at the National Sports Festival in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1985, he served as an assistant for the World University Games men's team in Kobe, Japan.

In 1987, coach Ball directed the North Team to the title at the `87 Olympic Festival. In 1988, he served as the director of the USVBA Junior Elite Camp in Boulder, Colorado.

Ball also served as head coach of the 1989 World University Games team, before being selected as an assistant coach for the 1991 World University team. In 1990, Ball coached the `90 Olympic Festival team to a Silver Medal. He was also asked to serve as the coach of the South squad at the 1993 Olympic Festival in San Antonio, Texas. In, 1994 his North team won Gold at the Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Missouri.

Again in 1997, Ball was called upon to serve as an assistant for the World University Team.

In the summer of 2000, Ball had the opportunity to be a scout for the U.S. National Team in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. It was the first time since 1994 that Coach Ball and his son Lloy, the starting setter for the U.S. Team, would reunite on the volleyball court.

A graduate of Ball State University, Ball earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from BSU in 1967 and 1971, respectively. During his undergraduate years, he enjoyed an outstanding playing career, lettering three years, and earning All-MIVA honors twice. During his senior year, Ball was chosen as team captain and named Most Valuable Ball has competed as a player in the United States Volleyball Assoc- iation for many years, gaining numerous awards and honors, includ- ing All-American recognition in 1990 and 1991.

After graduating from Ball State, Ball took a teaching position at New Haven (Indiana) High School. He then moved to Harding High School, where he stayed for eight years. At Harding, Ball was the coach of both the boy's and girl's volleyball programs. He led the boy's team to an overall record of 74-19, with three Indiana Volleyball Coaches Association Championships. His girls' teams posted a mark of 75-32 and captured one sectional and two conference titles.

Coach Ball and his wife, Sandy have three adult children, Lloy, Amy and Jana. They have three grandchildren, Dyer, and twin boys, Caden and Jamison.