The Ohio volleyball team is on the road again this weekend, traveling north to take on Mid-American Conference opponents Central Michigan and Western Michigan. The Bobcats play the Chippewas at 7 p.m. tonight and the Broncos at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Ohio (6-14 overall, and 0-8 in the MAC) fell to Central Michigan (5-13, 2-6) in four games when the teams met Oct. 2 at The Convo. But today Central Michigan will see a team that is much different from the one in that match, Ohio Head Coach Ellen Dempsey said. She said she has made several changes to her team since the first meeting.

"Michelle Gil is playing defense for us and is a primary passer, which has been kind of nice," Dempsey said. "We've done that the last three matches and it allows us to have two setters on the floor, so when the dig isn't perfect she can step in and set a great ball for our outside hitters."

Statistically, the edge goes to Ohio, Dempsey said. The Bobcats are out-digging, out-blocking, and out-hitting the Chippewas heading into the match. But playing in Mount Pleasant, Mich., could diminish whatever advantage the Bobcats would have in that respect, despite the improvement the team has made since early October.

"We're playing much better volleyball," Dempsey said. "I watched the video of the Central (Michigan)-Ohio match from the first time around and based on how we played this past weekend, there's no comparison. We're a completely different team."

The game will be a challenge for the Bobcats, though, because the Chippewas bring confidence from the earlier win onto the court when the two teams square off.

"They are out to get us," she said. "It's going to be a battle the first two games of the match, and how those first two games swing will have a lot to do with the outcome of the match."

The Bobcats and the Broncos meet for the first time this year Saturday. Western Michigan (16-3, 8-0) has an eight-match win streak, which has the team in first place in the MAC West Division.

Dempsey said the goal for the Bobcats is to play tough against the Broncos.

"Western (Michigan) is playing hot right now," she said. "It hasn't even lost a game. It's beaten everyone three and out.

"I think we can play them tough and make the team earn those games. We have the size and the ability to play with the (Broncos)."

A rivalry is brewing between individual players on the teams.

Bobcats' outside hitter Amber Merrill goes up against Broncos' outside hitter Mandy Whitfield and middle blocker Traci Morin. The trio played together in Colorado this summer as members of the United States A-2 training team. Merrill said she is excited about the match-up.

"I'm looking forward to playing well against them," she said. "We were really competitive out in Colorado and I'm sure it will be the same this weekend."

The Bobcats approach the two games looking to get back on the right track after their disappointing MAC start.

Dempsey said a really successful weekend for the team would be to win both matches, but realistically she would be happy if the team split the two games - beating Central Michigan and going four games with Western Michigan.

To achieve that goal, Merrill said Ohio is ready to play tough against both teams.

"We've been focusing on ball control and passing," Merrill said. "We should beat Central Michigan and we hope to play Western Michigan really tough and maybe win it. We just need to play consistent as a team and start to piece some wins together."