Although this is Homecoming weekend, the Bobcats have spent the past month turning The Convo into an uncomfortable place.
Ohio (14-4, 6-0 MAC) remains alone on top of the Mid-American Conference's East Division and has cleaned up well through the conference schedule's first turn. Coach Ryan Theis' team has swept five of its first six opponents, only losing one set in conference play to this point and is unbeaten at home.
And tonight's opponent, Toledo, has only experienced one sweep in its MAC season. But it didn't go the Rockets' way.
Toledo (11-7, 2-4 MAC) has seen its matches go the five-set distance three times in six conference tilts - the most of any Bobcat opponent to date.
The Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak last Saturday at home against Akron in a five-set showdown.
Theis was hardly surprised. Toledo clawed its way back into the match with Zips, and rallied from multi-point deficits in each set en route to the win.
When it's a team that likes to go five (sets)
you know they never give up Theis said. They won being down 0-2 Saturday night.
We know we'll have our hands full. What we have to do is execute on our end side-out and point run
he said.
To say that the Rockets have been perplexing is an understatement.
They defeated Louisville at Freedom Hall on Sept. 12, then a week later lost in five sets to SIU-Edwardsville in St. Louis.
UC Davis and Saint Louis also beat the Rockets that weekend, which came a week before MAC play.
Amber DeWeerdt leads the Toledo attack, averaging 3.59 kills per set and middle blocker Sarah Wilson boasts a team-best .265 hitting percentage.
Unlike most of the Bobcats' opponents so far, the Rockets have a serious threat in the middle. Wilson is second on the team in blocks per set and has the ability to throw off other team's attack.
We've played all different kinds of teams this year and we've been able to step up to those challenges
Theis said. It's certainly a different game plan every weekend.
Ball State, Saturday's opponent, has not been as confusing, just inconsistent.
Under third-year head coach Dave Boos, the Cardinals (10-9, 3-3 MAC) have won just one MAC road match this season (at Toledo, Oct. 8).
They play a structured style that is tough for offenses to break, Theis said, and the Bobcats witnessed that first-hand at last year's MAC Tournament.
They are one of the best in-system teams
Theis said. They have three or four hitters that can kill it. They have the talent and ability to side out.
But with Ball State, it comes down to who serves and passes better.
Tex-Mex Showdown?
After tonight's match
Theis will participate in his second Big Mamma's Burrito Eating Contest on The Convo floor.
Last year
the coach was taken to the wire by Russ Eisenstein
the Bobcats' play-by-play voice.
That doesn't appear to be the case on the second go-round.
I don't expect to win, Theis said.
Theis said the team's student director of volleyball operations downed a burrito in 68 seconds last weekend and appears to be the favorite.
He's the top seed, Theis said. Our little understudy in the program is kicking my butt.
,",2,Sports,Rob Mixer,29509a.jpg,Alex Goodlett | For The Post
