Volleyball Begins Stretch Run
November 11, 2005 | Volleyball
The 13th-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team begins the final six-match stretch of the 2005 season with hopes of distancing themselves from the pack near the top of the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin (18-5), along with Purdue and Minnesota, owns a 10-4 conference record for second-place in the league standings.
The Badgers take on eighth-place Iowa (14-13, 4-10) on Friday at 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. On Saturday, Wisconsin and 17th-ranked Minnesota (20-5, 10-4) battle off for second place in the Big Ten at 7 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion. That match will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis by FoxSports Net North on Sunday at 1 p.m.
'Pretty much everyone is bunched up in second-place and we 're going on the road for two of the next three weekends so it's going to be a challenge,' said head coach Pete Waite. 'It is important for us to play well not only for a shot at the conference title but for a good position when the NCAA tournament begins in December.'
While the four other top five Big Ten teams play at least two ranked teams in their last six matches, Wisconsin's match against the 17th-ranked Golden Gophers Saturday night will be the only such contest for the Badgers.
'In these final six matches, we're playing teams that are stronger than they have been in the past or weren't playing as well in the beginning of the season when we played them as they are now,' said Waite.
With four of the last six matches being on the road, Wisconsin looks to its 4-2 Big Ten record in road matches this season for inspiration. Two of those wins were earned on the courts of Purdue (ranked 21st at the time) and Ohio State (then ranked 19th).
'We feel confident going on the road,' said Waite. 'We have gotten some good road wins so far this season. Sometimes it is good to go out on the road.'
Earlier this season, Wisconsin beat Iowa in three games 30-28, 30-17, 30-21 in Madison. The Hawkeyes are led by a trio freshman leading the team in many statistical categories. Libero Emily Hiza leads the team in digs (3.75/game) and service aces (0.26/game). Outside hitter Catherine Smale leads the Iowa attack with 3.61 kills per game and is third with 2.66 digs per game. Kiley Fister runs the Hawkeye offense, averaging 10.39 assists per game.
'Iowa is an up-and-coming team,' said Waite. 'They have improved a lot since last season. We got them at home last time but we know they will be ready to play.'
In the first meeting earlier this season, Wisconsin need five games to beat then fifth-ranked Minnesota 19-30, 30-27, 27-30, 30-24, 15-12 in the UW Field House. The Golden Gophers are led by three-time All-American libero Paula Gentil, who leads the Big Ten with 5.69 digs and 0.52 service aces per game. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Florian is benefiting from Gentil's play in the back row, leading the Golden Gophers with 3.28 kills per game.
'Minnesota is always a good team,' said Waite. 'Obviously, last season they were really good. They have lost some players from that team but they're still right up there, being ranked 17th in the nation. '
Wisconsin uses one of the country's most dominating blocking units to not only contain their opponent's attack but to start their own as well. The Badgers' 3.60 blocks per game leads the Big Ten and is third in the nation. Middle blockers Taylor Reineke and senior Sheila Shaw are first and second in the conference, respectively. With only 15 blocks separating the two, Reineke averages 1.72 kills per game while Shaw has 1.53.
As a result of Wisconsin's equal emphasis on every aspect of the team, redshirt freshman Audra Jeffers has emerged as one of the Big Ten's top hitters, ranking 10th in the conference averaging 3.44 kills per game.
'We can't really focus on just one aspect of the game,' said Waite. 'We just have to focus on winning. We always work on becoming stronger in every aspect and making sure we are clicking as a team in every part of the game.'
Waite looks forward to the challenge awaiting the Badgers away from the UW Field House this weekend.
'For whatever reason, being on the road forces you to focus better because you are in a new environment and there are fewer distractions,' said Waite. 'Two weekends ago, we got a win at Ohio State so we know we can go out on the road and get a win.'
