The UW volleyball team (9-2 overall) was able to extend its home winning streak to 17 matches Saturday night, as the Badgers were able to knock off the University of Illinois-Chicago (11-4 overall) 30-20, 30-22, 30-20.
Junior outside hitter Lisa Zukowski smoked spike after spike past the Flames' defense all night en route to 14 kills and tournament MVP honors.
\It's awesome, but it's a tribute to my teammates,"" Zukowski said. ""I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them; so they earned it just as much as I did.""
Also receiving individual all-tournament honors were senior middle blocker Amy Hultgren and senior outside hitter Erin Byrd.
The win over Illinois-Chicago capped off a weekend of domination for Head Coach Pete Waite's volleyball squad. Friday night the team kicked off the tournament by making quick work of Bowling Green State University (5-7 overall) in three straight games (30-10, 30-18, 30-23). The Badgers rifled 49 kills past the overmatched Falcons, as freshman middle blocker Lauren Ford and the rest of the team took advantage of the sets junior setter Erin Byrd lofted them. Ford's .875 hitting percentage (14-0-16) broke the all-time, three-game Wisconsin record previously held by Badger volleyball star Sherisa Livingston.
Although it was the first time she had performed as a starter in front of a fired-up Field House crowd, Ford let her volleyball instincts take over and wound up putting together a performance that those in attendance won't soon forget.
""I thought that I'd be nervous when the game started, but once we were in the game I just focused on the game and I wasn't nervous. I was really excited, though,"" Ford said.
The Badgers then carried their great play and confidence into their match-up with Tulane (7-8 overall) Saturday afternoon as they once again won in three straight games (30-23, 30-22, 30-17). Although the Badger football fans had a lot to cheer about Saturday, the phrase ""Point Wisconsin"" could be heard throughout the Field House, above the roaring crowd of the stadium.
As she would Saturday against the University of Illinois-Chicago, Zukowski repeatedly drilled ball after ball into the opposing team's court. Between her solid performance and Hultgren's kills, Shields' sets and Byrd's digs, the Badgers demonstrated their talent on the court.
The Badgers will begin Big Ten play Sept. 27 against Purdue and will travel to Illinois Sept. 28 before returning home to play border-rival Minnesota Oct. 4. Waite feels optimistic heading into Big Ten play and is anxious to see how much this team can accomplish.
""I think the [Badgers] will crank it up come Big Ten time and become even more focused,"" Waite said.
If the Badgers are capable of being as focused and confident as this past weekend, then it wouldn't be surprising to see another Big Ten Champions banner hanging from the rafters.
