This weekend, No. 13 Wisconsin volleyball team will open the Big Ten season by traveling to Purdue and then on to Champaign Ill., where the Fighting Illini await. This season, the Big Ten is full of opponents that will make the 9-3 Wisconsin team work to defend their title as 2001 Conference Champions. Wisconsin is ready to get into the faster play of the conference.
\I think we're all anxious to get going in the Big Ten, see some old friends that play,"" junior outside hitter Lisa Zukowski said. ""We've been playing for three months and this is what we've been waiting for so we're just all anxious to get back into it.""
Penn State will look to continue this trend against Indiana Friday in hopes that they may be able to dethrone the reigning Badgers. Watch for Mishka Levy, a senior outside hitter, and junior outside hitter Cara Smith to make big waves for the Lions' volleyball this season. Wisconsin is definitely looking forward to taking on Penn State.
""Penn State has been playing great in their tournaments,"" senior outside hitter Erin Byrd said. ""One of our goals is to definitely beat Penn State at home, that was our only loss last season.""
With a No. 8 ranking in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, the Gophers have been surprising opponents all season with their tough play. Minnesota, who finished second in the Big Ten in 1999 and 2000, is looking to continue this past trend with star players Cassie Busse, a junior outside hitter, all-Big Ten preseason selection and sophomore setter Lindsey Vander Well.
""Right now I would say that as a team, Minnesota is playing some of the best ball, they lost some great players, they have a new setter in their lineup, but they just overall are playing at the highest level,"" Head Coach Pete Waite said.
The relatively young Hoosier team, lead by the stellar play of sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald and the skills of sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom, is ready for the action the Big Ten has to offer. Despite its youth, UW will take Indiana seriously.
""Indiana [is] a team that you have to watch out for,"" Byrd said. ""They are a team that can catch fire and they have some good athletes so you just have to come out and be prepared just like any other match.""
The Spartans have 10 returning letter winners, after losing three. This experience should position the Spartans as a polished and knowledgeable team, and the team will likely provide its competition with a solid, well defined effort. Michigan State kicks off its Big Ten season with a tough match at Minnesota.
""Michigan State only lost one starter from last years lineup and they've got a transfer in from Colorado in junior outside hitter Sara Villwock and so they should be really strong and overall,"" Waite said. ""They are a huge team, 6'2"", 6'3"" in every position so they should be really tough.""
Powerhouses like Joanna Lowry, a 6'2"" junior outside hitter with a 2.74 kills per game average last year in their lineup, make Purdue a force to be reckoned with.
""Purdue is a team that struggled some last year, they have a freshman setter who is coming on and doing better,"" Waite said. ""They are coming off of a win over Notre Dame which is a big win for their program, and the state of Indiana. Going in there, I think we have to play our game as best we can and have Purdue play up to us.""
Starting off the season with a 4-0 record the blue and orange were beaten by No. 10 Utah and started a slight downward trend. Look for senior outside hitter Sue Webber to be one of Illinois's main offensive weapons this season, with junior middle blocker Lisa Agrabright leading the defensive charge. Illinois is coming off two seasons plagued with injuries, so UW needs to be prepared for a stronger team.
""I played with a girl ... Agrabright, in the 'A' team program this year so I know that Illinois is going to be a very strong team,"" Byrd said.
The Buckeyes will be trying to bump up that record with a game Wednesday, and hopefully maintaining their 11th place ranking. Ohio State was ranked first in the Big Ten preseason poll, followed by the Badgers in second place.
""[Senior setter Katie] Virtue, who is setting and styling in the middle, is very tough,"" Waite said. ""They have three or four players who have been starting for the last couple of years so they should be pretty strong again.""
Katrina Lehman is one of the five starting returnees to watch for. A 6'0"" senior middle blocker, Lehman had an average of 2.42 kills per game last season and she will lead the defensive attack for the Wolverines this season.
""Michigan has always been solid, they are a little smaller team, but they are a hard-working and scrappy team, so it's always tough to play them,"" Waite said.
Iowa, with eight returnees and eight newcomers ready, have a team that has the capability to get stronger and make an impact on the Big Ten this season. Losing all-Big Ten outside hitter Sara Meyermann may have created a hole in the Hawkeye offense, but look for the team to replace her with a player like senior outside hitter Kelly Chestnut.
Returning all of their starters from last season should be able to help the Wildcats on their way to Big Ten play, although they may not pose a gigantic threat to some conference teams. After winning their first three games, Northwestern lost the next few before picking up another couple on the way. Don't count this team out though, as they have been steadily improving and hope to prove themselves on the court this year.
