Volleyball Hosts Northwestern Tonight
November 03, 2004 | Volleyball
The Wisconsin volleyball team goes for its eighth consecutive victory tonight as it hosts Northwestern in the UW Field House at 7 p.m.
The Badgers are 15-5 overall this season and are fourth in the Big Ten Conference with a 9-3 mark. Wisconsin is just two games behind first place Ohio State (11-1) and one game behind second-place Penn State and Minnesota, which are both 10-2. The Wildcats are 8-14 and 3-9 in the league.
Wednesday's match will be broadcast live on WIBA (1310 AM).
Wisconsin is coming off a weekend sweep with wins over Iowa and No. 2 Minnesota. Saturday's win over the Gophers marked the first time since 2001 that the Badgers beat a No. 2-ranked opponent.
Against Minnesota, junior middle hitter Shelia Shaw tied her career high with 24 kills. Shaw averaged 4.25 kills per game over the weekend, hitting at a .354 mark and was named a co-Big Ten Player of the Week. Freshman setter Jackie Simpson shared the honor last week.
Earlier this season, the Badgers swept the Wildcats in Evanston led by sophomore setter Katie Lorenzen, who came off the bench in game one to tally a then-career high 38 assists.
Wisconsin leads the historical series over Northwestern, 34-25, and the Badgers have not lost to the Wildcats at home since 1986.
After taking on the Wildcats, the Badgers travel to Illinois for their second match of the season against the No. 25-ranked Fighting Illini. Wisconsin beat Illinois 3-1 at home on Oct. 3.
