As the Ohio volleyball team reaches the midpoint of its season, coach Geoff Carlston is making sure his team remains focused on its goals.
The key now for all teams is to try to keep your head on straight and try to grind through another road trip
Carlston said. We're really trying to overcome the bumps and bruises that we're feeling and the academic stress and the pressure we're feeling from that.
The No. 21 Bobcats hit the road again this weekend when they travel to Ball State and Toledo.
Ohio (12-3, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) won all six games in its first two home matches of the season, sweeping Kent State on Thursday and Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
With a four-match homestand on the horizon, Carlston said it is pivotal to get through this trip with a couple of victories.There's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel just knowing we'll be home for two weeks Carlston said.
Ohio's most intriguing matchup of the weekend will be today against Ball State (6-10, 3-1 MAC). Ohio shares the lead in the Mid-American Conference's East Division with Bowling Green, while Ball State is atop the MAC West along with Northern Illinois. The Bobcats swept the Cardinals in the championship match of last year's MAC Tournament.
From there, Ohio will make the trip to Toledo to take on the Rockets.
The match will be a homecoming for Ohio outside hitter Ellen Herman, who holds several Toledo Central Catholic High School volleyball records.
I'll be having a lot of family and friends there and there will be a big section for the Ellen Herman crowd ... I'm really excited
Herman said about returning to Toledo.
Carlston expressed a little concern about how his team would respond to playing an early match tomorrow after playing at 7 p.m. today and traveling to Toledo the same night.
(Making the trip) is harder to do than staying at home
Carlston said. But that's part of it ' we can't use that as an excuse.
Toledo will be opening its conference home schedule this weekend, hosting Kent State today before Ohio comes in tomorrow. The Rockets split their matches last weekend, losing to Ball State and defeating Akron.
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Jason Fazzone
