The Ball State women's volleyball team (7-9, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) looks to get back on the winning track Friday in Huntington, W. Va., as it takes on the Thundering Herd of Marshall.
Marshall enters the match with a 12-7 overall mark, including a 1-2 MAC record. The Herd's strong record might be slightly inflated, considering the level of competition it played before the conference season. All the same, its record works as an advantage for it and a disadvantage for Ball State, according to Ball State head coach Randy Litchfield.
"That's something that has been a thorn in our side all year," he said. "We're playing some MAC teams that are real confident and that won some matches in September."
That isn't the only positive Marshall has going for it. This year, it also features three new German players, whom Ball State is not familiar with.
On top of that, the Friday match will be kicking off Marshall's homecoming weekend.
"Homecoming is big on that campus," Litchfield said. "That's a real motivator for them."
Marshall this season has developed a balanced attack, which features nine players with more than 90 points (one point is awarded for every kill, service ace and solo block, as well as one for every two-block assist) Ball State has five players who have more than 90 points. That is not good, Litchfield said.
"Teams that have a balanced offense tend to give us a little more trouble," he said. "I think in the MAC there are a lot of teams like that. We are going to have to prove that we can beat those kinds of teams."
To combat that and add more spice to the Ball State attack, Litchfield is stirring the pot in practice.
"We've put in some new offense," he said. "We're trying to get things changed up a little bit. I'll be curious to put it into play."
Litchfield is hoping these changes get the Cards back to their winning ways and stabilize the team after losing two conference matches last weekend.
"We've certainly had bad weekends early this year and bounced back," he said. "Practices have been real good, and all we need to do is start finding some consistency. We really have yet this year to find a middle ground."--2ef Reporter
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