The Ball State University women's volleyball team has a two-match win streak, and it will look to make that a four match streak this weekend with two matches in Worthen Arena.
"Its going to be fun to see our team playing with new found excitement and confidence after two wins last weekend," coach Dave Boos said.
One of the reason's for the recent turnaround is the emergence of freshman Alexis Shonkwiler. In the Cardinals' (3-13, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) two MAC victories last week Shonkwiler had 13 kills to three errors on 30 total attempts for a combined attacking percentage of .333.
"Things are clicking and people are filling the roles they are supposed to," Shonkwiler said. "All the offensive work that we worked on last week helped not only me but everyone."
Part of the problem during the Cardinals losing streak earlier this season was because of Boos implementing a very detail oriented scheme, Shonkwiler said. However, she said she thinks the team has finally figured it all out.
"I think that everything we do has a lot of detail, and this last week with a lot of reps helped everyone kind of get it," Shonkwiler said.
Boos said the team has become better on offense because its has more control.
"We are in more control of our offensive game than we were a month ago," Boos said. "I don't think we will always hit a good percentage but we are now in control if we do or don't."
The Cardinals first match this weekend is tonight against Western Michigan University. The Broncos are 12-6 this season including 3-1 in MAC play. The Broncos have gotten more than half of their wins at home as they are 7-0 when playing in Kalamazoo, Mich. However, they have just one win on the road with a 1-4 record at their opponents' gymnasiums.
On Saturday the Cardinals will match up against Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are 8-10 on the season and 1-3 in the MAC. They are 6-4 on the road, but have yet to pick up a MAC victory on the road.
The Cardinals new found confidence this weekend will be crucial to the Cardinals 2007 campaign. Shonkwiler said the team must keep the momentum going forward.
"This weekend is very important to keep our momentum in the MAC, especially with them being home games," Shonkwiler said. "All the work that we put in last week and this week will really show this weekend."
One potential boost for the Cardinals is the same thing that gave the women's soccer team a boost in two victories last weekend, the Ball State marching band. The marching band showed up for both soccer games last weekend, and Boos said he would like to see the band at the women's volleyball matches.
"I don't know anyone with the marching band, but they have an open invitation to come," Boos said. "Long term for me I want to build a relationship with the band."
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