The UW volleyball team (2-2 Big Ten, 11-4 overall) is looking forward to more Big Ten action this weekend as they travel to Ohio State (0-4 Big Ten, 6-7 overall) Friday and head to Indiana for another match Saturday.
After the team's disappointing loss to No. 6 Minnesota last Friday, they are hoping to continue conference play with greater confidence this weekend.
\We learned we're a great team,"" junior setter Morgan Shields said. ""Although we didn't capitalize on the match, I think we learned that it's there. We've been on a roller coaster of emotions. We're still working on our identity. We've had some glimpses, and we're building off of that.""
The hard-fought loss to Minnesota taught the team about more than just confidence.
""We need to finish in critical points,"" Shields said. ""It was critical points in the match where we didn't finish when we needed to.""
This will prove to be one of the team's focuses during the matches this weekend.
""We're trying to find ourselves each and every day. I hope it's the turning point for the way we can play against anyone in the country,"" sophomore outside hitter Jill Odenthal said.
That's what everyone else is hoping, as well, as the team prepares to take on Ohio State. The Badgers are 1-1 this season in road games, a statistic they are looking to improve this weekend.
""The road is always difficult,"" Shields said. ""We need to go out there with a hunger.""
Hopefully that hunger will be strong enough to handle Ohio State sophomore outside hitter Stacey Gordon, recently named the Big Ten Player of the Week. With a recent career high of 36 kills against Michigan State and a current average of 6.1 kills per game, Gordon is a cause for concern for the Badgers.
""[Gordon is] a great hitter,"" said freshman defensive specialist Beth Haberli, who is also counting on help from the team's blockers. ""I have to be ready for anything.""
""She's a threat but she's going to get her kills,"" Shields said. ""We just need to respond. But we still have five other hitters to worry about, and our side of the net to worry about.""
The Ohio State volleyball team, however, has faced many challenges this season with the plague of their injury list. Suffering from five injuries early in the season, four of which are still pending, the team is facing constant challenges this season.
Still, Ohio State has other strengths to be contended with, such as great players and a difficult court to play on, according to Odenthal. But the Badgers are far from backing down from the challenge.
""It is nice going out there and having the challenge of having a great team step on the floor'especially being away,"" Odenthal said. ""The opportunity to beat them at their place is nice, knowing how that feels.""
