Last season, the men’s volleyball team was arguably the best squad in Ohio State history. The team finished 25-4 and was the NCAA runner-up to the UCLA Bruins. This season, the Buckeyes have started just as impressively on paper and in St. John Arena.

The Buckeyes love their home floor and have proven it with a home record of 11-0. Recently, the team has been nearly unbeatable, having won seven of its last eight games.

The team, ranked No. 14 by the USA Today/AVCA coaches poll, is getting national recognition. Outside hitter Chris Fash took home this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association National and Conference Player of the Week honors for his exceptional play last weekend. This is the third such conference honor in Fash’s OSU career and the team’s second this season. Pieter Olree, the lone junior on the squad, also took home this distinction during the week of March 6.

Last weekend, Fash had 36 kills on 58 attempts and averaged 5.14 kills per game. He hit at a .483 clip and chipped in with two service aces, seven digs and seven total blocks. Though the senior team captain’s statistics are quite impressive, he chose to highlight his team’s success rather than his own accomplishments.

“It is an honor to receive both awards, however, winning the MIVA championship and making the Final Four is more important for our team,” Fash said. “In the last month the team has come a long way and we seem to keep getting better when it counts the most.”

Recently, the Buckeyes (13-5 overall, 7-3 Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) stormed past conference foes Quincy and Indiana-Purdue to take a share of third place in the MIVA among Ball State and Loyola-Chicago.

Two home showdowns will unfold this weekend between MIVA leader and 11th ranked Lewis University (17-5 overall, 11-1 MIVA) tomorrow night and Ball State (13-7 overall, 7-3 MIVA) on Saturday night. Both matches will take place at 7p.m. at St. John Arena.

The only loss that the Lewis Flyers have received thus far in MIVA play came compliments of Ball State and these teams have both beaten the Buckeyes at their home gymnasiums.

Senior team captain Todd Hill stated that revenge is on his mind this weekend as he and his teammates work to defend their MIVA championship from last season.

“We want to prove to both teams that it’s difficult to come to OSU and play,” Hill said. “As a team, we want to keep improving and win this weekend.”

Coach Pete Hanson echoed those statements.

“We are still in the thick of it, both Lewis and Ball State are competing for the league title and we are looking forward to playing them at home,” Hanson said.

With only two weeks left to play in league action, the Buckeyes must win both matches in order to remain in the MIVA title hunt.

“It would be great to see a large crowd on hand this weekend,” Fash said. “These two matches are huge and the more fan support we have the better.”