Ball State University has been the home of one of the nation's top men's volleyball programs for more than 60 years. The players from there have gone on to be championship-winning coaches at the club, high school, and collegiate levels as well as leaders of the sport. The names stand out -- program founder and volleyball ambassador Don Shondell, top high school girls' coach Steve Shondell, four-time college champion and U.S. Olympic women's coach Mick Haley, Pete Hanson, Craig Skinner, Olympian Phil Eatherton and many more.
Ball State alumni are bonded by their connection to the university, each other, and one dream - to see the Cardinals win an elusive NCAA title. The passion they bring equals the fervor they showed as outstanding players, coaches, and ambassadors for the sport.
The university dominated volleyball in the Midwest and helped the sport grow on a national basis. It has made 17 trips to the NCAA Final Four but has not been able to be the last team standing at the end of any of those seasons. The program has experienced a resurgence in recent years, university support appears strong, and the alumni are playing a bigger role than ever in trying to ensure future success.
Learn how these men came to Ball State from diverse backgrounds, their stories on and off the court, and why they are united in their goal. This book is much more than the history of a program. It seeks to connect the dots between past and present, chronicle the outstanding careers of so many alumni, and, most importantly, illuminate that passion that has so many seeking a positive resolution to "Why Not Us?"