Two big conference opponents await the women's volleyball team,while at the same time head coach Randy Litchfield is two wins shyof becoming the first Mid-American Conference coach to reach 200conference wins.
"It's not a real pressing issue; it's not like I'm the guy inthe new movie [about] the 3,000 hit club," Litchfield said. "I'mnot under that kind of pressure."
Ball State (6-5) will face last year's MAC champion Ohio (8-2)on Friday followed by a matchup against Toledo (10-0) on Saturday.Both matches will be on the road.
Ohio is coming off of its biggest upset in team history, theydefeated No. 18 Pepperdine in the University Park Classic atColorado State this past weekend.
Ohio comes into the match leading the MAC in four statisticalcategories: hitting percentage, opponent's hitting percentage,assists and blocks.
Ball State is right behind them in the blocking category,averaging 2.94 per game compared to the Bobcats 3.17. The battle atthe net is what Litchfield expects to be the key to game.
"It's just a big test for us to prove that we can competeagainst a team as physical as they are," Litchfield said. "Lastyear we failed monumentally against them, really no fault of ourown, we just didn't have the physical presence."
This year the Cardinals have added a 6-3 transfer, RachelRefenes, and her along with others have helped boost the teams netplay.
"We have that now and we have no excuses and I think that's thetest here," Litchfield said. "Ignoring whether we win or lose, canwe go face-to-face against them and come out of it realcompetitive?"
Litchfield said he is hoping the battle at the nets is "a wash"and strong back court play will be the difference and lead theCardinals to victory, something they have done 13 straight times inAthens, Ohio.
A big key to Cardinals back court game will be senior liberoStephanie Keller, who is 49 digs away from becoming the MAC'sall-time career leader.
The Cardinals also have a 33-game winning streak against Toledodating back to 1987. While the Rockets enter the weekendundefeated, they could have a loss when the Cardinals face them ifthey lose to Bowling Green on Friday.
Just like Litchfield doesn't feel pressure to get two wins, hesaid the team shouldn't either. While they have two big matchesLitchfield said nothing is going to be decided this weekend.
"They're big but they're not the most important matches of theyear," Litchfield said. "I don't know that anybody should befeeling a huge amount of pressure."
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