It's time to forget about last year and the struggles for the Ball State University women's volleyball team because a massive challenge lies ahead. The Cardinals are participating in the Mortar Board Premier Tournament hosted by Purdue University beginning on Friday.
"We're going in with the mindset that we are there to win the tournament," coach Dave Boos said. "The only thing I'm concerned with is performing the way we know we can. We've done everything to prepare for this except go out and play."
A ranked Big Ten foe, No. 19 Purdue, looms large over Ball State, which will be kicking off its 2009 campaign.
"There's no pressure on us," junior libero Alyssa Rio said. "They're the ones who are supposed to win. Sure, we will probably have nerves because it's the first real officiated game, but we're not looking at their jerseys or rankings."
The Boilermakers own a 22-9 lead in the all-time series including a 3-0 victory last season in Muncie during the Active Ankle Challenge held in Worthen Arena. The last Cardinals victory in the series was in November 1977 - a 2-1 affair.
Purdue won't be the only challenge Ball State faces throughout the weekend. It will also have to battle fatigue as they play three games in two days.
Saturday's schedule calls for a match against the University of Dayton and then a contest with Coastal Carolina University to close out the tournament.
"These are three quality opponents," Boos said. "This is going to be a big change from two-a-days and practicing against each other."
While no one person will shoulder the load, the Cardinals will look to sophomore setter Brittany McGinnis to control the offense and Rio to keep the ball in play defensively.
"Everything will be so much easier on us this year," Rio said. "We know each other's tendencies and who will go for which ball. We still have to communicate and make sure everyone is on the same page though."
Expectations are high for Ball State this season despite the difficult schedule. Ball State on Wednesday was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference West Division behind Western Michigan University in the MAC preseason poll. It will be a difficult pre-conference schedule that helps find and address weaknesses for the Cardinals before MAC play begins, Boos said.
"I think the second-place selection says something about our program," Boos said. "To have other coaches think highly of us shows that our program is on the rise."
The 2009 season officially gets underway at 7 p.m. Ball State is then scheduled to take the court at noon Saturday against Dayton and at 5 p.m. against Coastal Carolina.
In actionBall State vs. PurdueTime: 7 p.m. FridayVenue: Intercollegiate Athletic Facility
Team breakdownLast season: 12-21 (6-10 MAC)Starters lost: ZeroLetterwinners lost: ThreeNewcomers: Two - sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Brandl and freshman Libero Lauren SchlakerAll-MAC returnees: Sophomores Brittany McGinnis (setter) and Jennifer Boyd (middle blocker). Boyd was named as an All-MAC second teamer and both Boyd and McGinnis were named to the All-MAC freshman team.
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