Ball State's and Xavier's swim teams share a common traitheading into their dual meet for both men and women Friday night inCincinnati.
They both defeated Butler in their most recent meets. BothCardinals wins had a bigger point spread with a 126-66 pasting ofthe Bulldogs by the women and 118-61 by the men; the Musketeerswomen, on the other hand, eased to a 73-46 win, and the men won70-52.
So far in the season, both Xavier teams have squeaked by severalof their opponents for wins. The men defeated IUPUI by nine andEastern Illinois by three. The women's team beat IUPUI by seven andbarely edged Louisville by five.
Ball State women's head coach Laura Seibold-Caudill said sheexpects a tough meet but believes depth will decide theoutcome.
"We have to be on our toes," Seibold-Caudill said. "We have toswim well. We have to take this meet serious, but I just don'tthink they have the depth to compete with us."
Both Seibold-Caudill and men's coach Bob Thomas said theybelieve homepool advantage will have an effect because Xavier'spool is older and only has four lanes. As a result, each event willhave two heats, but both coaches said they believe their teams cancome away with a win.
"We've been swimming well, and I would expect to have a goodmeet Saturday," Thomas said. "I expect our best times of the seasonup to this point of the season."
Xavier's men's team is strong in the IM and butterfly, which,according to Thomas, has been one of the Cards weaker spots thisseason.
The women's team is strong in the breast, back and 200 free.
"We're experiencing the midseason soreness," Seibold-Caudillsaid. "I think it's a good experience to compete under thoseconditions to get them ready for the championships at the end ofthe year. In the long run, it'll make them tougher. They need tolearn how to compete when they're sore and tired."
Overall, Xavier's men's team is 3-2 in dual meets; the women are4-1. Both finished second in the IUPUI Invitational in their firstmeets of the season.
On Dec. 4, the schools will meet again at the Zippy Invitationalin Akron, OH.
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