The Ball State University women's volleyball team didn't practice Wednesday morning.
Less than 10 hours after the team's 3-1 loss to IUPUI in which the Cardinals won the first set but lost the next three, coach Dave Boos wanted to instead meet with his team to establish goals that will help in this weekend's DePaul Invitational.
The team talked for three "quality" hours.
"We just wanted to make sure that we learned from our current lessons on the court," Boos said. "We wanted the team to establish exactly where we're going and establish the leadership within the team. I thought it was a really productive meeting, and we're looking forward to playing this weekend."
With 10 newcomers on the team this season, such as freshmen setter Brittany McGinnis and defensive specialist Kaylee Schembra, finding that balance has been a work in progress.
"I think the purpose of the meeting was to discuss some team things that we could fix to help us become more successful," said Schembra, who collected a match and career-high 22 digs against IUPUI. "I think we got a good idea of what our goals are and how we can work together to achieve those goals."
McGinnis, who is averaging 34.4 assists and 8.4 digs this season, said being intense from the very beginning of the match produces better results for the team.
"I think what we need to do better is go out and compete from the very beginning," McGinnis said. "We always tend to make a run for it kind of later in the match right now, but that's something that we're working on as a team in practice, and I think if we go out and play with a lot of intensity this weekend, then we'll be fine."
Boos agreed.
"I think that's the key for us - finding the level of competitiveness and intensity in every match," Boos said. "I think the team in our meeting understood that there's a lot of value to that, and I think we're going to come out and do a much better job on Friday and Saturday."
On Friday, ready or not, the Cardinals (2-6) face the University of Denver in their opening match of the DePaul Invitational.
The Pioneers (5-1) are coming off three shutout victories against the University of Virginia, the University of Iowa and the University of Tennessee last weekend to claim their own Pioneer Classic. Denver's one loss this season was to No. 17-ranked Colorado State University.
"I think that Denver is having a really nice season so far," Boos said. "They have a veteran team that's knocked off some nice teams in Tennessee and Arkansas - two SEC schools - so, they're going to be tough because they just have a lot of experience on the floor."
Denver is led by 2007 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year Kacie Wikierak. The sophomore libero collected a team-high 636 digs last season.
Also returning for the Pioneers is senior outside hitter Holly Benson. Benson, a 2007 All-SBC Second Team selection, was second on the team with 439 kills, had a team-best 40 service aces and was second to Wikierak in digs with 479 last season.
Ball State next plays host DePaul University on Saturday.
The Blue Demons (1-4) are coming off their first win of the season Saturday against James Madison in the University of California's Golden Bear Invitational. Returning for DePaul are sophomores Jacie Fielder and Christy Landschoot.
Fielder, a middle blocker, collected 60 blocks and 310 kills with a .307 attack percentage last season, while Landschoot, a setter, paced the offense with 1,067 assists and 179 digs in 2007.
The Cardinals wrap up play in Chicago against the University of Texas at San Antonio. The meeting will be the first ever between the two schools.
The Roadrunners, who defeated the University of Georgia 3-1 on Wednesday, are led by 2007 second-team All-Southland Conference selection Kendra Rowland.
Rowland, an All-SLC preseason selection, was second on the team last season with 449 kills and led the team with 28 service aces.
Senior defensive specialist Audrey Hiser also provides the leadership for University of Texas at San Antonio (2-6). Her 541 digs last season led the team, and she was second to Rowland in aces with 21.
Boos said DePaul and University of Texas at San Antonio are similar to his own team.
"[DePaul and University of Texas at San Antonio] are going to be a little younger, a little less experienced, which will be good for us to be playing teams also that are going through the same growing pains we're going through," he said.
For Schembra, success this weekend will be based on what the team learned in Wednesday morning's powwow.
"We've just got to make sure we stay competitive the whole time and stay together as a team and all the little things we talked about in our meeting," Schembra said.
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