Ball State University women's volleyball coach Dave Boos can sum up the University of Cincinnati - his team's first opponent in this weekend's TIS Bookstores Indiana University Invitational - in one word.
"Physical," Boos said. "Cincinnati is just big."
The Bearcats (6-3) feature eight players taller than 6-foot and provide a challenge Boos said he thinks his squad is ready for.
"[Cincinnati is] a program that has done a nice job of recruiting over the past couple of years and they have put together a real nice roster, so we're going to have our hands full for sure," he said.
The Cardinals (3-8) take on Cincinnati at 10:30 a.m. in an invitational field that also includes George Mason University and host Indiana University.
Cincinnati features a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American selection in senior middle blocker Jessie Nevitt.
Nevitt, who is also a three-time all-Big East Conference selection, has 99 kills with a .369 attack percentage and a team-high 30 blocks.
Also returning for the Bearcats is 2007 Big East Rookie of the Year Stephanie Neimer. The sophomore outside hitter leads the team in kills with 104.
Ball State continues play today against host Indiana. The Hoosiers also sit at 6-3 and feature two players Ashley Benson and Erica Short who are at the top of several Big Ten statistical categories.
Benson, a sophomore middle blocker, is best in the Big Ten with 1.69 blocks per set. She has 50 blocks overall to go along with 117 kills.
Short leads the Big Ten with five kills per set and leads the team with 160 kills and is second with 72 digs.
Boos said Indiana shares a common goal with his team.
"Obviously their goal, just like ours, is to catch the best team in the state, which is Purdue," said Boos, whose Cardinals lost 3-0 to the Boilermakers on Sept. 6. "I think that [Indiana head coach] Sherry Dunbar has done a great job there as far as laying the foundation down for a very solid Big Ten program."
The Cardinals close out play on Saturday against George Mason in Indiana's Assembly Hall.
Normally known for playing host to its classic basketball matchups, Boos said his team should have a leg up in the match from the beginning.
"I've coached in Assembly Hall, and it's a very different feel," said Boos, who spent five years as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota before coming to Ball State last season. "I think we have an advantage in the fact that we play in [Worthen] arena here. It's very similar as far as the depths for passing because it's a very different passing environment."
The Patriots (4-6) return 2007 Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team selection Fernanda Bartels. The sophomore setter has a team-best 306 assists and 90 digs.
Boos said the Patriots' roster is somewhat the opposite of Cincinnati's.
"George Mason is a smaller team," Boos said. "A team like what we saw earlier in the season in our first tournament of the year."
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