The Wisconsin volleyball team will add another chapter to its intrastate rivalry with UW-Green Bay as the Badgers head north to face off with the Phoenix Wednesday night.
Wisconsin (0-0 Big Ten, 4-4 overall) comes into the meeting after splitting a pair of matches at the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind. The Badgers dropped a four-set match to the host Fighting Irish before defeating the New Mexico State Aggies in three straight sets.
Green Bay (0-0 Horizon, 3-6 overall) enters Wednesday's contest after taking two of three matches at the Bowling Green Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio, including a 3-to-0 sweep of the host Falcons.
At 4-4, Wisconsin has alternated wins and losses this season. Meanwhile, Green Bay started its season losing four straight matches, but went on to win three of its next five.
In order to quell the hot Phoenix, the Badgers will depend on the consistent play of senior outside hitter Brittney Dolgner and sophomore middle back Elle Ohlander. The duo received all-tournament honors in South Bend.
Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite said Monday that Ohlander has been a big part of the team so far this season.
""Elle Ohlander in the middle is stepping up,"" he said. ""We knew there were about four middles that were very close, but she's really been the one stepping up to be the most consistent.""
Waite also talked about the play of sophomore setter Janelle Gabrielsen, who has spent the beginning of this season adjusting to her role as the only setter on the floor.
""Nellie Gabrielsen as a setter is someone who's never set a single-setter offense in her life and so this is new for her,"" he said. ""She's becoming much more offensive as it's allowed, able to set the slide set behind more often.""
Both Badgers will use Wednesday's meeting as a final warm-up for their respective conference seasons. Waite added that he wants the team to work against Green Bay in preparation for the rigors of their Big Ten schedule.
""Instead of just preparing for a match, you're preparing to be a better team and individually improve on some thing as far as their techniques or footwork, things like that,"" he said.
The Badgers and Phoenix will face off Wednesday night at the Kress Center in Green Bay, with first serve set for 7 p.m.
—uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
