The Ball State women's volleyball team (7-10, 2-3 Mid-AmericanConference) looks to get back on track in the MAC tonight when ittakes on Miami in Worthen Arena.
Since starting the MAC 2-0, the Cardinals have droppedthree-consecutive matches, including a thrilling five-game defeatat the hands of Marshall on Friday. Miami might seem like a perfectcandidate for Ball State to jump back into the thick of theconference, due to Miami's 7-14 overall record and 1-5 MAC ledger,but head coach Randy Litchfield said that is not the case.
"This is a huge rivalry match," he said. "You can throw outrecords and current quality of performance. We were MAC championslast year, and Miami was a team that took us to the limit."
Ball State is 33-28 all-time versus Miami and has currently woneight-straight matches against the RedHawks. Miami is one of onlytwo MAC schools to hold a victory over Ball State in Worthen Arena.Ohio is the other.
Outside attacker Tara Buroker will lead the RedHawks at the net.The 5-foot- 11-inch redshirt junior paces her team with a 3.56kills-per-game average. Her 2.77 digs-per-game average is second onthe team only to sophomore libero Suzy Wolford's average of3.46.
Currently holding the hot hand for the Cardinals is redshirtsophomore Melissa Oliver. The middle attacker has notched20-or-more kills in three of Ball State's last five matches.
Injuries and illness remain a problem for the Cards. Sophomoreoutside attacker Sarah Obras underwent surgery for a bladderproblem a week ago. Although she competed at Marshall, the team'sleader in points was not at 100 percent and failed to lead BallState in kills for the first time this season. Still, Litchfieldsaid he is confident that Obras will be back to full health for theMiami match.
"There is no doubt in my mind she'll be ready to go," hesaid.
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