Stephanie Blackburn felt an unfamiliar feeling walking off the floor after her team's only loss in Mid-American Conference play this season, a defeat to Miami Sept. 28.
The loss was her first-ever in MAC play, and with Ohio (19-4, 11-1 MAC) set to play the RedHawks (13-8, 10-2 MAC) in Oxford tomorrow, the outside hitter maintained that this feeling of defeat is not one she wants to get used to, especially to a conference rival.
We've been practicing really hard this week
and we've been really focused as a team Blackburn said. We know obviously what it's like to lose now and we're not going to let that happen again.
Like Blackburn, middle blocker Melissa Griffin said that Nov. 3 has been a date that the team has been looking forward to for some time now.
We all want to win it really badly Griffin said. We've been having really competitive practices
and I think we are going to go into it ready and motivated to beat them at their place.
Since falling victim to the RedHawks a little more than a month ago, the Bobcats have rolled through their competition, winning all nine matches and 27-of-28 games.
I think it was an awakening
and we realized that we can get beaten if we are not on top of our game
Blackburn said. We really stepped up our game
and it's kept the team hungry.
With the recent stretch of victories, Ohio has given itself the benefit of controlling its own destiny in the MAC, a bonus that coach Geoff Carlston said is important to have at this point in the season.
It's not about revenge
it's about winning the conference
he said. I'm not going to say that it's just an average match
because it's not. The conference championship is on the line this weekend in a lot of ways.
Last weekend, Ohio played two of the weaker teams in the MAC in Akron and Buffalo, which had a combined record of 2-22 in conference play. Ohio will finish its conference season with Miami, Bowling Green, Kent State and Central Michigan, which have combined to go 36-12 in the MAC.
Griffin said it is up to the seniors to help the 'Cats through this tough stretch of matches going into the MAC Tournament.
It's essential
obviously
