This weekend, the East will meet the West when the Mid-American Conference West leading Ball State women's volleyball team faces off against the MAC East's best two teams in the form of Akron and Marshall.
While the MAC is divided into two divisions, head coach Randy Litchfield does may much attention to it.
"I have never gotten used to the divisional concept," Litchfield said. "I'm not a big fan of it. I really still look at us as producing one champion."
Ball State (12-6, 8-0 MAC) will be facing one of the top contenders for the MAC championship Friday when it takes on Akron (17-3, 8-0 MAC).
"I see right now Akron and Ball State being the two best teams in the league," Litchfield said. "Now we get to play them."
Litchfield is apparently not the only person that sees Akron and Ball State as the MAC's best two teams. Both teams are currently ranked in the top 10 in the Mideast Region poll with the Zips at six and the Cardinals at nine.
"I haven't seen them in person yet, but I would certainly place them in the top five of the teams we have played," Litchfield said. "I think the polls and rankings bear that out."
For the first time in a while, Ball State will be entering a match as the underdog. While that is unusual in league play, Litchfield feels his team will be prepared.
"We're usually the favorite in MAC play, but the schedule outside the conference readies us for this competition," Litchfield said. "No one can accuse us of playing in matches where we will only be the favorites."
Ball State's road schedule doesn't get much easier on Saturday when it returns home to face the Thundering Herd from Marshall. Marshall (16-5, 7-1 MAC) has been one of surprise teams in the MAC this year and first-year coach Mitch Jacobs seems to have the Herd playing at a whole new level this season.
"I think they're living happy right now," Litchfield said. "They are playing with a lot of enthusiasm. They just keep winning."
Litchfield sees having the match at home as an advantage.
"With these upper-division teams it is certainly better to play them at home," Litchfield said. "We've won a lot here in Worthen and shown it is a tough place to play."
Because this is the only time the Cards get to face the Zips and the Herd this season, this weekend is increasingly important.
"We're fighting for a number one seed and we get one shot at each of these teams," Litchfield said. "I feel like if we want a better than average chance at hosting we have to win these matches."99256-¦+â-ïvolleyball preview 10.25.02DNEditorial992SORT+â-¦+â-ä2AUDT
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