Women's Hockey
The upcoming week is a big one for Badger women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson.
Not only does the team have their first game Friday against Minnesota State in Mankato, but they also move into their brand new home, La Bahn Arena, Monday.
Coach Johnson stated in his press conference Monday that the “wow factor” provided by this new facility is a huge advantage to recruiting and ticket sales alike.
The team had an inner-squad scrimmage last Saturday aimed at giving the girls some game time experience. With a large freshman class that includes Johnson’s daughter, Mikayla, he wants to feed his team as much college hockey, experience as they can get to prepare for Friday’s game in Mankato.
Brianna Decker, a member of the U.S. women’s national ice hockey team, will be the team’s head captain this year and Johnson is excited about handing her this opportunity.
“The way Brianna conducts herself indicates to me that not only she wants to have a great senior season, but she wants to continue to have high goals for herself.”
Volleyball
Wisconsin volleyball head coach Pete Waite spoke at UW’s weekly press conference Monday, after his team wrapped up an up-and-down weekend in the gym.
The Badger women opened their Big Ten season this past Friday with a win at Northwestern and continued the weekend road trip to #20 Illinois Sunday, where they dropped a close match in five sets.
Coach Waite addressed the tough games the Badgers are looking forward to this coming weekend, playing #4 Penn State Friday and #23 Ohio State Saturday.
UW has matured since last season, but so has Penn State, rightfully taking their place as one of best teams in NCAA volleyball.
The Nittany Lions’s size is one of their major strengths, and they also sport some of the fastest serves Waite has ever seen in his 13-year coaching tenure at UW.
Waite looks forward to the challenge and says great ball-handling, good serves, as well as improvements in consistency will all play a major factor in the Badgers’ ability to pull off an upset this Friday.
