For the second time this season, the women's volleyball teamfaces an in-state, Mid-Continent Conference opponent. However, BallState will be looking for a different outcome this time.
The team lost to Valparaiso a few weeks ago and plays host toIUPUI on Tuesday, a few days before the team opens Mid-AmericanConference play.
"It's a huge match that I'm very, very concerned about," headcoach Randy Litchfield said. "Any non-conference match that buttsup to a conference weekend causes concern."
The Cardinals broke a five-match losing streak this weekend bygetting wins over Arkansas and Houston.
"We're not coming off a great weekend, we're coming off a decentweekend and we have a huge weekend right in front of us,"Litchfield said.
The Cardinals open conference play this weekend against Ohio,last year's MAC champion, and Toledo.
"I think we were pleased with the two victories we got becausethey were hard fought and we had to stay focused," senior StacieBaldwin said. "We're glad to be back on a winning streak, but we'renot satisfied."
Baldwin said the team needs to continue trying to stop themental errors and also not let one mental error lead to more.Litchfield said another thing the Cardinals needed to work on washaving offensive balance.
Last season, IUPUI finished second in the Mid-Continent behindValparaiso last season and was picked to finish third this season.Litchfield said he couldn't stress enough how important this matchwas for the team.
"Any time you play an upper-division conference team and a teamthat is in the championship hunt in their league, that match takeson a lot of importance," Litchfield said.
He said the coaches will try and get the team motivated bytelling them a win against an eventual conference champion can bevery big in November when teams are trying to get into the NCAATournament.
"Players don't easily understand those things," Litchfield said."If you're motivation level is a little on the low side, a littleinformation like that can provide a boost."
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