In its first three weekends of Mid-American Conference play, Ohio (7-10, 3-3 MAC) has gone 1-1, splitting against Akron and Toledo, losing against Western Michigan, and most recently winning against Northern Illinois. If Ohio hopes to make it to the MAC Tournament this trend cannot continue because Ohio would be the first team out if the season ends today.
Ohio has a chance to fight into a top-six spot this weekend, hosting matches against Ball State (10-8, 3-4 MAC) and Miami (7-12, 0-7 MAC), two teams beneath it in the standings. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the weekend.
Series Information
Opponents: Northern Illinois and Miami
Location: The Convocation Center (Athens, Ohio)
Times: Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
Where to Watch: ESPN+ (Ball State)/ESPN+ (Miami)
Follow live stats here for Ball State and here for Miami.
Ball State Notes
While Ohio started slowly in nonconference play and has started to pick up in conference, the opposite is true for Ball State. The Cardinals sit ninth in the MAC, one game back from Akron in the sixth spot. This makes the matchup crucial for both teams, with the weekend trajectory determining who has the edge over the other come tournament time.
Miami Notes
After a 7-5 start to the season, Miami has lost eight consecutive matches, including seven straight in MAC play. Over that streak, Miami has won just six sets, less than one per match. The Redhawks’ shot at a post-season appearance is growing slimmer daily with 11 matches left on their schedule to turn everything around.
Player to Watch (Ball State): Megan Wielonski
Wielonski is the Cardinals’ primary setter, with their backup only playing 20 sets on the season. Wielonski has tallied a total of 629 assists – 9.53 per set – on the season, giving Ball State’s hitters a shot at every ball that comes off her hands. Limiting Wielonski’s options and keeping the offense out of the system will be key for Ohio.
Player to Watch (Miami): Ana Vetter
MAC conference play has not been kind to the Redhawks, but their freshman outside hitter has been a bright spot. Vetter is second on Miami’s roster in kills with 132 and tied for first in service aces with 21. Vetter has also been productive defensively with 80 digs and 38 blocks.
