Volleyball: Ohio returns home to play Ball State, Miami

Ohio (7-10, 3-3 MAC) is 1-1 in its first three weekends of play in the Mid-American Conference, splitting against Akron and Toledo, losing to Western Michigan and most recently winning against Northern Illinois. If Ohio hopes to make it to the MAC Tournament, that trend may not continue as Ohio would be the first team eliminated if the season ends today.

Ohio has a chance to earn a spot in the top six this weekend by playing games against Ball State (10-8, 3-4 MAC) and Miami (7-12, 0-7 MAC), two teams who are lower in the overall ranking. Here’s everything you need to know before the weekend.

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 non-conference play and picked up steam in conference play, the opposite is true for Ball State. The Cardinals are in ninth place in the MAC, one game behind sixth-place Akron. Therefore, the duel is crucial for both teams, as developments over the weekend will determine who comes out on top come tournament time.

Miami notes

After a 7-5 start to the season, Miami has lost eight straight games, including seven straight in MAC play. In this series, Miami has only won six sets, less than one per game. The Redhawks’ chances of a postseason appearance are getting slimmer by the day with 11 games left on the schedule to turn things around.

Player to Watch (Ball State): Megan Wielonski

Wielonski is the Cardinals’ primary setter, and their backup has only played 20 sets this season. Wielonski has totaled 629 assists (9.53 per set) this season, giving Ball State’s hitters a chance on every ball that comes her way. Limiting Wielonski’s options and keeping the offense out of the system will be crucial for Ohio.

Player to Watch (Miami): Ana Vetter

MAC conference play wasn’t great for the Redhawks, but their freshman outside hitter was a bright spot. Vetter ranks second on Miami’s list with 132 kills and is first in service aces with 21. Vetter was also productive defensively with 80 digs and 38 blocks.

@LoganPAdams

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