The Ball State University women's volleyball team travels north tonight to play Eastern Michigan University before playing Central Michigan University on Saturday in the team's final regular season road trip of the year.
The Cardinals (10-15, 5-5 Mid-American Conference) are 6-3 in true road matches this season, including the 3-2 upset in their last away match on Saturday against 2007 MAC Tournament Champion and East Division-leading Miami University.
"This weekend's important for us because this is our time to show them that we've improved and that we've come together as a team to do what we're supposed to do," sophomore middle blocker Charde' Phillips said.
Coach Dave Boos said his team is always looking to improve in order to prepare for the MAC Tournament, which begins Nov. 18.
"This back half of the MAC [schedule], we're looking to improve, we're not looking to live off of last weekend - we want to keep improving off of last weekend," Boos said. "I think we played a really nice match [last] Friday night against Bowling Green, came back and played even better Saturday night against Miami, so I think the goal of this team is to continue to improve each match, and by the time we hit that MAC Tournament, to be our best team."
Boos said his team plays better on the road compared to home (2-7) and neutral (2-5) matches because it thrives on entering intense environments.
"I'm happy we can [play on the road] pretty well - that means we are pretty mentally tough," Boos said. "In intense environments, we're very focused, we're very competitive as a group, so maybe that's it."
Ball State will look for a season sweep of Eastern Michigan (9-16, 3-7 MAC) in tonight's match. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 3-1 (25-20, 25-12, 23-25, 25-13) on Sept. 27, on their way to a .234 hitting percentage for the match.
Boos said despite what looked like an easy win for the Cardinals, he knows Eastern Michigan has shown much improvement throughout October.
"Eastern Michigan has taken a lot of matches and sets off of people that have shown their improvement," Boos said. "They've always been a real scrappy, ball control team, and they continue to be that. I think we're going to see a much-improved team from last time we played them."
The Eagles are led by junior libero Kim Jarzynka's team-best 463 digs (4.72 digs-per-set) and 22 service aces. Jarzynka had a team-high 16 digs against Ball State in their first meeting this season.
Eastern Michigan's offense is led by junior outside hitter Victoria Randolph, who leads the team with 272 kills and a 2.82 kills-per-set average. Randolph totaled a double-double against the Cardinals on Sept. 27 with 13 kills and 13 digs.
Saturday night, Ball State plays Central Michigan (14-8, 8-2 MAC), who plays host to the University of Toledo tonight.
The Chippewas are 7-2 since their 3-1 (24-26, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21) win against the Cardinals on Sept. 26.
Boos said he is impressed by the leadership Central Michigan possesses.
"Central Michigan is a very veteran team, and with their 8-2 [MAC] record, they have certainly played like a veteran team," Boos said. "They've had a lot of close matches and a lot of close sets, but they've came away with them, and I think that's the job of a veteran team. I think our job is to show our maturity and to combat their maturity with our maturity."
Led by junior setter Stephanie Budde's 42 assists against Ball State earlier this season, Central Michigan features an offense based on a middle attack.
Senior middle blocker Whitney Evers leads the team with 224 kills (2.87 kills-per-set) and 27 service aces, while freshman middle blocker Kaitlyn Schultz (188 kills) is third on the team in kills and tied for team-high honors with 11 kills against the Cardinals on Sept. 26.
Tonight's match begins at 7 p.m.
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