Ohio (19-9, 11-3 Mid-American Conference) has two opportunities to notch its 20th win on the season. Coach Ryan Theis has placed more emphasis on his team’s conference mark rather than the overall record.
“We haven’t, as a team, focused on the 20-win mark at any point,” he said. “We were really hoping to get to 13 or 14 conference wins. We have a shot to get to 13 if we play well this weekend.”
But he said a lot of people still use the 20-win mark as a measure of success.
“It would be hard to say you had a bad season when you win 20 matches,” Theis said. “It does mean something to get to that number, but the success of this season will be how we do at the end.”
Theis said he knows he is going to get each of the opposing team’s best shot en route to that plateau. Buffalo and Akron will visit The Convo this weekend.
Theis said Buffalo is fighting for its life and has had a few players who will present challenges for Ohio, in particular a left-handed hitter.
“They’ve got a lefty that’s doing a really nice job offensively,” Theis said. “We don’t see a lot of lefties. We don’t have any on our team. It’s always a challenge preparing for her.”
Akron, like Ohio, has played in multiple five-set matches, but that is where similarities end.
The Bobcats hold a 7-1 record when matches go to that final set. The Zips are 0-5 in five-set matches, but Theis said that just means they are able to stay in matches.
“It tells me that they are able to play with everybody, and I think they will be approaching this match with nothing to lose,” Theis said.
As far as seeding for the MAC tournament, Theis said that, if teams continue to play as they have been playing, Ohio will have the fourth seed.
He added that he wouldn’t count out Central Michigan or Eastern Michigan in their matches against Ball State, and if the Cardinals lose, Ohio could move up to the third spot.
nr225008@ohiou.edu
