Entering its final road trip of the season, the Mid-American Conference leading Ball State women's volleyball team is only one win away from clinching a berth in the 2002 MAC Championship Tournament. Head coach Randy Litchfield has loftier goals for his team though.
"Every year, our sights are set much higher than that," Litchfield said. "Maybe that's something we take for granted a little bit and maybe we shouldn't. "
Litchfield also realizes that the season is far from over.
"We're still young enough and inexperienced enough to make a lot of strides in our training to get better in practices," Litchfield said. "Veteran teams at this stage of the season normally don't get much better. We have the advantage in that we can improve things day in and day out."
This weekend, the Cardinals will be facing Bowling Green and Central Michigan. While neither team has a winning record, this weekend is still important for Ball State.
"The biggest accomplishment we can make this weekend is to make it our last road trip of the year outside of the NCAA tournament," Litchfield said. "We need to be desperate in holding down the MAC championship."
In their first meeting this year, Ball State defeated the Falcons 3-0 (30-18, 30-28, 30-19) in Worthen Arena on Oct. 18. Bowling Green has improved as of late though, according to Litchfield.
"They're playing better volleyball but they are still going to be the same style of team," Litchfield said.
That style of play is one that does not compliment Ball State's team very well.
"They slow the pace of play down with off-speed shots and we pride ourselves on being a very fast team," Litchfield said. "They can really bog you down."
On Saturday, Ball State will face Central Michigan for the first and only time this year during the regular season.
"I think there is a little more pressure when you only play a team once to get that win," Litchfield said.
Litchfield expects the Chippewas to bring a type of play similar to Bowling Green's into the match.
"They are a little unorthodox," Litchfield said. "They'll be a completely different style from our team."
To be successful this weekend, the Cardinals will need to show an intensity comparable to that which they displayed last weekend in their 3-0 win over Eastern Michigan.
"We are going to have to play with a MAC championship type mentality," Litchfield said. "Our goals right now need to dictate our level of play."662e Greer
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