A two-week home stand produced a 1-1 record for the men's swimming and diving team, but this weekend Ball State is back on the road.
Last year the Cardinals split a double-dual meet with Ohio University and the University of Toledo. They defeated Ohio but fell to Toledo at home.
This Saturday Ball State travels to Athens, Ohio, seeking a sweep of the Buckeye State-based Mid-American Conference rivals.
Head coach Bob Thomas said Toledo would present a difficult challenge to his team.
"Let us put it this way," he said. "If they swim up to their capabilities, they should beat us, but I am counting on breaks. I am counting on our guys stepping up. Whatever it takes to get the job done."
The past is a good example of what can happen going into a meet, Thomas said.
"We have done this before against Toledo," he said. "They have been a stronger team than us, and we have met them at a dual meet and come out on top. We have our own disadvantages, but I tend to overlook those for now and hope for the best."
In late November, Thomas said he felt his team was peaking at the right time. Despite three losses in four meets, Thomas said he thinks his team is still getting better.
"We set our sights on the conference meet," he said. "That is when we will pull out all the stops and really have our peak performances. Since Christmas vacation, at each dual meet we have been achieving a high percentage of dual meet best times."
Sickness could play a factor in the level of performance for the Cardinals on Saturday.
"Everybody is coming down sick right now," Thomas said. "It is frustrating. The flu bug is going around, and it is really important that they (the swimmers) take care of themselves."
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