Volleyball Wraps Up Home Season This Weekend
November 18, 2004 | Volleyball
The Wisconsin volleyball team closes out its home Big Ten Conference season this weekend as it hosts Michigan and Michigan State. The Badgers take on the Wolverines on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Spartans on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Both matches are in the UW Field House.
Wisconsin is currently tied with Illinois for fourth place in the conference at 10-6 and is 16-8 overall. Michigan is in sixth place (8-8 Big Ten, 18-9) while Michigan State (6-10, 11-13) needs an overall winning season to be eligible for the NCAA Tournament.
'We're thrilled to be home because it's been kind of a long road trip for the teams we've played,' Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite said at a news conference Monday. 'But we've been playing very well at home, so we're looking forward to that.'
The Badgers are coming off a three-match road trip where they lost to top 25-ranked opponents Illinois, Penn State and Ohio State.
'By playing those top teams this week, they really showed us the areas we need to get better at still ' consistency, ball handling, service errors we need to keep down,' Waite said. 'And, if we fix some of those things, we're going to gain those points in each game and we've got a shot at winning every one of them.'
Saturday is Senior Night, marking the final regular-season appearance at home for seniors Jill Odenthal and Marian Weidner. The duo will be honored before the match.
'You know, being Senior Night on Saturday night, we 're looking forward to having (Odenthal and Weidner) in front of our fans, and hopefully it's not the last time, but they've done some great things for us,' Waite said. 'They've been huge for us, and especially in a year where we've got 11 out of 15 underclassmen, freshmen and sophomores actually, they've been instrumental off the court also, just trying to be great leaders and good examples for the young kids.'
Odenthal is currently eighth on Wisconsin's all-time kills list with 1,165. The 6-0 opposite hitter is second on the squad with 262 slams (3.05/game) this season. She has also come on strong defensively with 160 digs (1.86/game), which is third-best on the team. Odenthal posted a career-high 17 digs earlier this season against Indiana.
'As our setting improved, (Odenthal) kept improving, ' Waite said. 'She came on strong in the back row also, which has not been something she's been good at the last couple years, but now she's making defensive plays and it's really bolstered our team.'
Odenthal was named 2004 Pre-Season All-Big Ten and was recognized with a place on the InnTowner Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Weidner, also a member of the 2004 InnTowner All-Tournament Team, is third on the squad with 194 kills (2.73/game). A solid defensive player, Weidner is second on the team with 161 digs (2.27/game) this season.
'Marian has come in here this year and really played a great role off the bench for us,' Waite said. 'And, at times, especially at Michigan this year, came in with 21 kills and really saved the day for us.'
Weidner's 21 kills against Michigan was a new career high from the 6-1 outside hitter.
Saturday's match will be televised by FoxSports Net with coverage airing at 5 p.m. Sunday on FoxSports North.
