Before they can go on Spring Break, the Cardinals first mustface the Panthers of Wisconsin-Milwaukee today. While UWM has a 6-1loss to Youngstown State, a team Ball State swept, and participatedin the Ball State Invitational this fall, coach Kathy Bull saysmuch of this team is unknown.
"We've never played them in a dual match before," Bull said."It's another one of those matches we'll have no info to work withuntil we get on the courts."
The Panthers (1-6) have struggled early in the season, and Bullhas some pretty specific goals for the weekend.
"I think they're an above-average opponent. I would like to seeus control everything, from the first ball to the last ball," shesaid. "I think everyone would like to celebrate the beginning of aseven- or eight-day break with a victory."
The match is the Cardinals' (7-4, 2-0 in the Mid-AmericanConference) last task before they have a week off for SpringBreak.
"Honestly, we've never done anything like this, playing a matchon the Friday evening before Spring Break. But I think, coming offof a good month in February, mostly on the road, we should be OK,"Bull said. "I think anytime you can return home and play well, Ithink that it's important."
The match will be the Cardinals' first home match in almost amonth. They are 3-1 at home, with their last match being a 5-2 lossto Michigan State on Feb. 15.
The match is also the final nonconference game for theCardinals. The Cardinals will continue conference play March 26against Toledo and March 27 against Eastern Michigan.
Eastern finished runner-up in the MAC regular season last yearand eliminated the Cardinals from the MAC Tournament.
"What we want to try to do is make sure all six players areplaying at their highest level," Bull said. "We haven't pushed thisso far. Right now a couple players will step up, and a couple willtake half a step back. To play consistently we need to haveeveryone as close to 100% as possible.
"Everyone has to carry her own load, and I think my players arestarting to realize that."
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