Ohio athletics will look to boost its national profile this fall.
The school's volleyball and field hockey teams scheduled several top-notch opponents for the non-conference portions of their 2007 seasons.
After his team finished ranked No. 25 at the end of last season, volleyball coach Geoff Carlston hopes the tough early season will keep the Bobcats near the top.
If you get towards the top 25
top 50 of over 300 teams you're doing some pretty good things Carlston said. We want to stay there
though
and the only way to do that is to schedule other top 25 and top 50 teams.
Seven of the volleyball team's 10 non-conference opponents have appeared in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in the last two years. Three were ranked in the top 15 at the end of the 2006 season.
The reason we scheduled so hard is if we can't win the Mid-American Conference tournament
we can still get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament
Carlston said. It starts building a higher Ratings Percentage Index and creates an impressive body of work for the NCAA selection committee. We're in as good of a position as possible for the Dance.
The non-conference games will also prepare the Bobcats for the conference section of their schedule.
It's almost like swinging two bats before going up to hit with one
Carlston said. We'll be seeing athleticism you won't see in the MAC. When you play against those types of athletes
you can do a little bit more in the conference.
Outside hitter Stephanie Blackburn said she sees the opportunity for younger players to gain intangible experience.
People need to bring their A-game
Blackburn said. You have to bring your heart. It often comes down to who wants it more. Some of the young girls won't be used to that until they play these games.
The field hockey team will face the likes of No. 1 Wake Forest, national runner-up in 2006; No. 4 Duke, national semifinalist in 2006; No. 5 Ohio State; and No. 16 Indiana.
This was no coincidence. Coach Neil Macmillan had every intention of getting his team out against the best in the country.
It was a conscious decision
Macmillan said. We respect the MAC
