The Ball State University women's volleyball team gets a break in its Mid-American Conference schedule tonight when it hosts IPFW at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (8-14, 4-4 MAC) have lost three straight conference matches and are hoping to get back to their winning ways tonight against the Mastodons.
"I just want us to go at it," outside hitter Hannah Sullivan said. "We need to get back in the groove of things and have a really strong performance."
Coach Dave Boos said he is hoping to see some attitude from his team tonight after two losses at home during the weekend to Kent State University and Ohio University.
"We need to find that consistent level of competitiveness that we've been showing throughout conference season," Boos said. "We had somewhat of a letdown Saturday night and didn't play as well as we needed to, but need to rebound from that to prepare ourselves."
IPFW (10-11, 6-3 Summit League) is coming off a five-set loss to IUPUI in which middle hitter Rebekah Roehm - the team's leader in kills - and senior setter Jessica Dominiak - the leader in assists - did not play.
Bill Salyer, IPFW assistant director of athletic media services, said Tuesday that both Roehm and Dominiak were injured and is unsure if they would play against Ball State.
Second to Roehm in kills this season is freshman outside hitter Ashley Dillon. Dillon has 204 kills and is third on the team with 158 digs. Junior Shannon Reuter will take over at setter for Dominiak and has 279 assists this season.
In their five-set loss to IUPUI, the Mastodons set a school record with 23 total blocks - 13 coming from senior outside hitter Kylee Hervey.
Boos said to prepare for IPFW he has emphasized in practice a consistent attacking of blocks.
"When it comes to people blocking you, it has to do a lot with your own attacking and decision making," Boos said. "We just have to make better choices. Right now, we've been working real hard in practice in attacking - especially on the outsides - so hopefully we do a good job of attacking their block and not allowing them to dominate that net."
Sullivan, who is fourth on the team in kills with 127, hopes to account for several attacks from the outside.
"We just need to hit over the block, use them and hit the ball hard," she said.
In actionBall State at IPFW
TIME: 7 p.m.
VENUE: Worthen Arena
RADIO: WCRD 91.3 FM
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