The No. 4 ranked Badgers (5-0) gear up for their first home match of season as the host of the HotelRED Invitational Friday and Saturday in the UW Field House.
Wisconsin opens their home season undefeated and are prepared to keep it that way. Head coach Kelly Sheffield believes the girls have executed many things well so far this season.
“We are having our moments on a lot of things,” Sheffield said. “We are sometimes doing well with our serves, offense or defense.”
Wisconsin’s first opponent of the weekend is Miami (4-2), followed by Missouri State (4-3) and Ball State (3-3).
“Miami looks very athletic on film, especially their middles; we’re going to have our hands full,” Sheffield said.
The last time the Badgers played in the Field House was last December.
“We have done a lot of traveling. We have played in front of big crowds, but this is one of the best fan bases in the country,” Sheffield said.
Friday marks the beginning of the Badgers’ home season, as well as the UW student block party. UW students will receive free admission with their student ID and free pizza while supplies last.
Sheffield’s excitement to be home is reflected onto his players, especially sophomore setter Lauren Carlini, junior libero/defensive specialist Taylor Morey and senior outside hitter Courtney Thomas who were all honored by the Big Ten after their performances in last weekend’s Colorado road trip.
After three consecutive wins in Colorado and receiving Setter of the Week, Carlini is focused on this weekend’s matches.
“I hope to increase my connection with the hitters,” Carlini said. “Last weekend was a good inclination of what our season could be like. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the court, we are going to play as hard as we can every single game.”
The defense complements the offense with Morey commanding the backrow. After receiving her second-consecutive Defensive Player of the Week, Morey is ready to keep the team’s momentum alive.
“We have a good mentality of training at practice, and when we are on the court it’s about competing and being the best,” Morey said.
Sheffield has helped the girls create that mentality upon starting at Wisconsin.
“We focus on one match at a time, always,” Morey said. “We never look too far ahead or look into the past, this mentality is something Kelly established when he got in here.”
Rounding out the weekly Big Ten awards for the Badgers with Player of the Week, Thomas is excited to create a new, successful atmosphere for the team.
“We had great chemistry as a team last year,” Thomas said. “We played and communicated well, but this is a new team and we have to figure out how to be successful a different way.”
The Badgers strive for the best every time they step on the court.
“We all want to be great; we come into the gym not expecting to be perfect, but that’s what we try for,” Thomas said. “The more you try, the better we will be; and the harder we work, the better we will be.”
