Volleyball wraps up home schedule with two matches
November 18, 2010 | Volleyball
Nov. 18, 2010
MADISON, Wis. – It’s been an up-and-down season for the Wisconsin volleyball team. From starting off with 11 straight wins to losing seven straight to start the Big Ten Conference season, the Badgers have finally leveled off the last few weeks.
But if you compare this team to last season, the Badgers have seen a lot of improvement. UW went from an 11-18 mark last season to currently being 15-12. With only four matches left in the regular season, the Badgers need to win just one of those matches for a winning record.
“I look at it in a way that we’re stronger now than we were a year ago,” explained UW coach Pete Waite. “Our kids are battling. They’re right there, they’re right on the verge. It’s just the youth I think at times is catching up to us a little bit, but they’re learning a lot from these experiences. And they feel good about their progress and that they have the opportunity at any point on any matfch in the Big Ten is to knock somebody off and get the win.”
| Match 28 | vs. No. 22 Minnesota | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 19 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Location | Madison, Wis. | UW Field House |
| Tickets | Adults: $5 | Youth/Seniors: $2 | Ticket Office |
| Parking | Parking Information |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Social Media | @BadgerVball  | Facebook  |
| Radio | Live on The Mic 92.1 (WXXM-FM) |
| Webcast | BigTenNetwork.com |
| Match 29 | vs. Iowa | |
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 20 | 7 p.m. |
| Location | Madison, Wis. | UW Field House |
| Tickets | Adults: $5 | Youth/Seniors: $2 | Ticket Office |
| Parking | Parking Information |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Social Media | @BadgerVball | Facebook |
| Radio | Live on The Mic 92.1 (WXXM-FM) |
| Webcast | BigTenNetwork.com |
Wisconsin is looking to knock off two opponents this weekend as they wrap up their home season with matches against No. 19 Minnesota and Iowa in the UW Field House. The Badgers host the Golden Gophers on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and the Hawkeyes on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Badgers’ hills and valleys have come with a young squad. Wisconsin has consistently started three freshmen this season and at times, has had four freshmen on the court.
“Offensively, some people are stepping up but some people are still, as young players, going through a really good weekend and then an off weekend or a good day and an off day,” said Waite. “That’s just what younger players do. When we hit on all cylinders, we can beat people.”
The Badgers are looking for their second win over a top-25 team this season against Minnesota. Wisconsin lost at then-No. 20 Minnesota, 3-1, on Oct. 24 though two of those sets were decided by just two points.
“We hope to close it out for our seniors with a good couple of wins here,” said Waite.
Seniors Jessa Benson, Kim Kuzma and Allison Wack play in their last home matches this weekend. The trio will be honored prior to the Iowa match on Saturday.
“They’ve actually done a great job, really creating a great mentality with this team, a positive influence every day in the gym and off the court,” said Waite of his seniors. “They’re really leading this team in the right direction. We’ve really, I feel, really turned the bus in the right direction with this group.”
The Badgers lose the seniors as well as redshirt junior Ashley Wiedmeyer, who is leaving to concentrate on her nursing studies, at the end of the season. Waite will return 13 letterwinners, the core of his team, next season for a Big Ten race that could be wide open.
“Honestly, they don’t like losing, but they can see the difference from a year ago until now,” said Waite of his team. “And they see what’s going to happen in another year when a lot of these teams, and there are a number of teams that have veteran squads right now, that they’ll lose three or four from their starting lineup, and we will return four or five from our starting lineup. And so there’s going to be a big shift next year.”
But right now, the Badgers still have four matches left this season, including two at home.
“They’re definitely winnable and especially being here at home,” said Waite. ”We’ve been gone for the last two weeks and it’s nice to be back.”
