The Buffalo Bulls are the only Mid-American Conference team to beat the No. 21 Ohio volleyball team in a game this season. The Bobcats still won the match 3-1 in Buffalo and came away with the experience of having to bounce back from a bad game.
Tonight, the Bulls pay a visit to The Convo, and the Bobcats (14-3, 6-0 MAC) are ready to protect their home court. This time, the Bobcats don't want to give up anything.
Buffalo came out and beat us in a game at their place and showed us a different look
so we have to be ready for anything defensive specialist Molly Mangan said. We don't like to lose; they earned that win but we want to show them we can beat them in three.
Ohio coach Geoff Carlston, however, said he wasn't concerned about losing a game. His team won the match, and they had to rebound from losing a game to win.
I think it was good thing when we lost that game to (Buffalo). They played at a different level then they had been
Carlston said. I like that we had to dig and find a way to win the match.
While Carlston said he wasn't worried about losing a game to the Bulls (13-10, 2-5 MAC), the team thought the same way Mangan did. Middle blocker Amanda Andersen said the Bulls will be pumped to face Ohio again and the Bobcats have to remain focused.
I think they will be really fired up to play in front of our fans; they want to beat us on our home court
so this is huge for them
Andersen said. We just need to hold our own and play our game.
Tomorrow, the Bobcats will take on the Akron Zips (7-13, 1-5 MAC) for the second time this season as well. Ohio swept the match on the road not even a month ago. The Zips are looking to end the Bobcats longest home match winning streak, but the 'Cats will be ready.
Carlston said it will be odd for his team to play Buffalo and Akron the second time this season when they haven't played all the MAC teams yet, noting that the second match with conference teams get tough.
When you get into round two you know each other better
so you have to make sure you're improving
Carlston said. It's easy to get motivated because we are at home
the team doesn't need a lot to be fired up
because we don't overlook anybody.
This weekend's matches kickoff the Bobcats two week home stretch with Buffalo and Akron this weekend and Western Michigan and Northern Illinois the following weekend.
