Abstract: A data storage system receives multiple data streams, such as a telephone messages, each of which are to be stored in a multidisk array. The data storage system generates a disk write request for each data stream. The disk write request is allocated to a disk in the multidisk array that has the highest weighted available space. The weighted available space of each disk is determined by the space availability of the disk and the load on the disk relative to other disks in the multidisk array. Optionally, the method used to allocate the disk space availability is dependent upon the disk write request load level. Thus, if the request load level is in a first load range, a least full assignment method is used, if the request load level is in a second range, a round robin method is used and if the request level is in a third range the weighted available space method is used.