The swimmers square off with Akron on Friday night and Buffaloon Saturday afternoon, but they must first challenge sickness andfatigue.
Several members of the team have fallen ill this week, but theycontinued to practice and will compete this weekend.
"I don't know what kind of an effect that will be, but I don'twant to use excuses," head coach Laura Seibold-Caudill said.
A long trip awaits the team after Akron, but Seibold-Caudillsaid she decided to split the drive. This way, she said, the teamdoesn't suffer from a long trip from Ohio to New York in onenight.
Instead, they will rest in Eerie the night before continuing toBuffalo.
Despite the traveling, the team still has trained this week,though not as much.
They training will help. Akron has "all the bases covered" ineach event, Seibold-Caudill said. Akron also has the edge in divingand other events, she said, but Ball State has more depth.
Akron is coming off a second place finish at the quadrangularmeet at Oakland University last weekend. The Zips have procuredseven first-place finishes, including freshman Danielle Beland'stwo firsts (1,000 free and 200 butterfly). Beland was named MACSwimmer of the Week this week.
"These are two teams that we beat last year in a dual meet, butwe've got our hands full on Friday and Saturday," Seibold-Caudillsaid. "They're going to be at their home pools, fresh. We've gotback-to-back meets, and we're going to have to travel a long waystoo. We've just got to be at our best. We're totally capable ofdoing that."
Buffalo easily defeated Siena College last week with a 179-74victory. Jennefer Brankovsky, MAC'S Swimmer of the Year lastseason, led the team by contributing three of ten first places (100backstroke, 500 freestyle and 200-medley relay).
"They're going to be tough opponents, no doubt," Seibold-Caudillsaid. "These are two meets that could come down to the last event.I really think they will. It's kind of a test of their competitivenature, to see if they can rise to that challenge."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
