Riding a nine-match win streak and standing undefeated in the Mid-American Conference, the Ball State women's volleyball team goes on the road for the first time in six matches to face MAC rival Miami tonight in Oxford, Ohio.
Head coach Randy Litchfield feels good about his team going on the road again, considering how well it has played away from home so far this year.
"We've been slightly better on the road than at home," Litchfield said. "The other nice thing about playing on the road than at home is that the players actually get a little more rest."
The Cardinals (12-6, 7-0 MAC) are in dire need of some rest after a grueling two and a half hour win Saturday night against Eastern Michigan.
"I'm 40 years old and Saturday night at 10:30, I felt like I was 60," Litchfield said. "It took everything we had."
With a lot of the team tired and some of them ill with what Litchfield describes as a "flu-type bug," the Cardinals have had a couple of lighter workouts this week to try and recuperate for Wednesday's match.
"We are going to get one of two results," Litchfield said. "We are going to get a rested team that goes over to Miami and plays well or we are going to get a team that is ill-prepared thanks to my tactic and struggle. I just can't see this team struggling, though. They are too hard-nosed."
In Miami (7-13, 2-6 MAC), Ball State will be facing a school that has a reputation for giving the Cardinals headaches. Ball State's last lost to a MAC opponent in Worthen Arena was to Miami on Nov. 15, 1997. In fact, the RedHawks are the only MAC team to have defeated the Cardinals in Muncie since 1992.
"It normally matters if one program is up and one program is down," Litchfield said. "We go there and expect a war. I expect to see a team that is starching and clawing to stay in the picture. My experience tells me that they are some of the most dangerous teams."
The RedHawks will be lead into battle by two-time all-MAC selection Kelly McCullough. The senior is an All-Region candidate and is considered as one of the conference's best outside hitters. McCullough can be tough on opponents because she attacks from the opposite position that most top-flight outside attackers hit from, according to Litchfield. He feels his team is ready for that, though.
"This team relishes new little challenges like that," Litchfield said.
Freshman outside attacker Sarah Obras will look to lead the Cards to victory. Obras was named MAC West Division Player of the Week honors for her performance the week of Oct. 14-20. It is her second such award in the past three weeks.
"I think it is great that she is being noticed and she is being noticed because we are racking up wins," Litchfield said.
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