It's official.
With a win over Miami on Wednesday night, the Ball State women's volleyball team clinched sole possession of the Mid-American Conference West Division title. While the team is pleased with the accomplishment, it is looking for more.
"It is nice, but it isn't what we want," junior backcourt player Meredith Fancher said. "Our goals are much higher than that. If our goal had been to win the West than maybe we would be excited, but we want to win the championship and host the tournament."
The Cardinals turned in one of their best performances of the season against the RedHawks, beating them 3-0 (30-18, 30-15, 30-14) while out hitting them .323 to .109.
"We did a lot right," sophomore libero Stephanie Keller said. "We did a lot of the little things. We pursued balls. We put balls in play, and that is what you have to do in the MAC."
Two of those little things were serving and blocking.
"Our serving game was on and we were putting up good blocks," head coach Randy Litchfield said. "When you generate 25 points from your serves and your blocks, you are going to have a good night."
Fifteen of those 25 points from service aces and blocks were from the aces' category. That number of 15 is a new season high for the Cards. Sophomore setter Stacie Baldwin paced Ball State with six aces.
"It was our best performance of the season and it pretty much won the game for us," freshman outside attacker Sarah Obras said.
Serving has been a concern for the Cardinals all season and something that they have struggled with lately. Added focus in practice and a positive mentality improved that aspect of their game, according to the team.
"We're a really good serving team and it was just a matter until we were going to go back and serve like we know we can," Keller said. "Tonight we did that and it paid off."
Ball State was also helped out by another solid performance by Obras. The current MAC West Player of the Week notched her team-leading 14th double-double of the season against the RedHawks with 15 kills and 10 digs. She also registered three aces and two blocks.
"The double-double is the biggest part of her game I think," Litchfield said. "It is nice to see that she is going out and doing it consistently. Her blocking and serving games are coming along well now as well."
With only three more regular season MAC matches remaining, Ball State is ready for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and encouraged by its recent play that it will be on top when it gets there.
"If there is one time of the year where you want everything to click, it is November and we are doing that," Fancher said. "We just have to keep doing that and we'll go out and win 3-0 every time."
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