For the women's volleyball program, it's been a tough road the past few years. After winning four straight MAC Championships from 1992 to 1995, they've only won two since then, the latest one in 2002. It will be difficult for the Cardinals, as the MAC is solid top to bottom, with rival Miami coming up on Friday, and the possibility of the top two seeds, Ohio and Eastern Michigan, looming later in the weekend.
Senior Sarah Obras said that this team is ready to step up.
"I think it's definitely a hard road," Obras said. "I think it'll be a challenge for our team and in order for us to win the championship we have to play great. We've shown greatness on the court in the past month and there's also been when we haven't shown greatness on the court."
Head coach Randy Litchfield said that it will require the team to be prepared both mentally and physically to make it through the weekend.
"Three matches in what virtually amounts to 48 hours is a major challenge and it requires consistency, and that's my biggest concern," Litchfield said. "Except for here in November, we have not been the most consistent team. I think we're talented enough to do it. We're healthy enough to do it. Are we consistent enough to do it? That is the question mark."
Luckily for the Cardinals, injuries are not much of a concern heading into the weekend. Litchfield said that there is a cold bug passing through the team, but the team will be ready.
"It wouldn't be a MAC Tournament without a little adversity," Litchfield said. "We don't serve, pass, or hit with our throats, so we'll be fine."
The Cardinals will open play today against Miami at 1:30 p.m. at the SeaGate Center in Toledo, OH. The first time around the Cardinals defeated the RedHawks 3-2 in a match on Sept. 23 in Muncie.
Sophomore Angie Parrell said that they can't let Miami get off to a quick start if they want to advance to Saturday.
"I think that they are a very fired-up team," Parrell said. "And if they get a few points going their way, they'll feed off of that intensity and that's when we need to step our intensity up."
Middle attacker Kristin Westhof said that the Cardinals need to learn to start and finish games.
"We're just gonna have to step up right off the bat," Westhof said. "Lately we've just been starting slow and ending slow, so we need to jump on them and get them down right away."
Litchfield said that the RedHawks are a well-balanced team and that's the biggest challenge.
"They beat Buffalo convincingly last night and we full well expect that the rivalry between us will bring out the best in us," he said.
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