The No. 22 UW volleyball team (9-3 Big Ten, 17-6 overall) has eight games left this season to snatch a Big Ten title away from No. 17 Minnesota.
Wisconsin's next chance to move up in the standings comes this weekend, as they host Michigan (8-5, 16-8) Friday and Michigan State (8-5, 16-7) Saturday at the Field House.
Currently the Badgers are tied for second place with Penn State and are in the middle of a six-team hunt with Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State in pursuit as well. Last Friday the ladies had the chance to reverse roles with Minnesota, however the Golden Gophers prevailed and sent the Badgers home in five games.
UW's first test this weekend will be to focus on senior middle blocker Erin Moore and the Michigan Wolverines. Moore will most likely break the school's career record in kills this weekend as she is only seven away from 1,261. Moore has earned 10 or more kills in all but two matches this season and is not expected to perform any differently against Wisconsin.
\If she doesn't get more than 10 kills we'd be surprised,"" Zukowski said. ""She's going to get her kills. She's a good player.""
UW's weekend does not get any easier as they also take on Michigan State Saturday. The Spartans are enjoying a three-game winning streak after knocking off Michigan Wednesday, and have won five of their last six matches.
Earlier in the year, the Spartans were able to conquer the Badgers in four games and are looking to advance to the top of the standings by doing so again. The Badgers have done well against the Spartans at home, however, with their only loss in the past 10 years coming in 1996.
""We have to beat them with speed because they're a much bigger team,"" Head Coach Pete Waite said.
However, the Badgers have weapons of their own. Shaw is one of the team's kill leaders with 262 and has been hot of late. The 6-1 sophomore has 10-plus kills in each of her last 12 matches, a team high. Shaw is also a threat serving. She leads the Big Ten in conference-match service aces with 0.47 per game.
An added factor, and one that Waite contributes to the win against Penn State, is the large crowds filling in the Field House. Wisconsin ranks
