After winning two out of three matches last weekend, No. 16 Wisconsin (8-2) will begin conference play this week with a pair of big tests, as it will face top-ranked Penn State (11-0) and No. 12 Ohio State (11-1).
“This week we’ve got Penn State and been watching a lot of film,” UW head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “Once again, Penn State is a very talented team that seems to be getting better every week that has a coach that has accomplished a couple things along the way. Ohio State is a team that may jump into the top 10 in this week’s polls, so we are certainly excited to get the Big Ten season under way.”
Wisconsin is very eager to get revenge on the Nittany Lions after they fell in four sets to Penn State in last year’s NCAA Regional Final.
However, beating the Nittany Lions will not be an easy task. Penn State is led by both a plethora of All-Americans and news faces, including freshman setter Bryanna Weiskircher, and has yet to drop a set this season.
“Here is the thing, [Micha Hancock] had probably the best serve in the country, certainly the best serve on their team,” said Sheffield. “The new setter they have in right now is certainly the best server on their team. She is not quite Micha behind the service line, but she’s no slouch and she is quite good. They’re in fine hands.”
Sheffield likes to stress that his team prepares equally for each team they face week in and week out, coming in to each game with the same mindset to improve every time they play. However, given the fact that the Badgers will take on the number one team in the nation this week, Sheffield concedes that he and his team are looking at the Penn State match a little differently than usual.
“As a competitor, I would hope they are looking at this game differently,” Sheffield said. “Our goal is to try to compete for a national championship and you’re going against a team that has won the last two. Although their personnel is different, we’re going up against a program that has storied excellence to it and our players to want feel that.”
Not only are the Badgers excited for Penn State, but also very eager to start conference play in the Big Ten, which has its fair share of teams loaded with talent.
“I think they’re also equally jacked up to be opening up Big Ten, and I’m not sure who you have in front of you,” Sheffield said. “On the flip side, we won a Big Ten conference championship last year, and that was something that was pretty big for us. Although, Penn State won the whole thing, I’m sure they feel that’s rightfully theirs and they’re probably going to be packing a little bit more juice as well.”
Wisconsin takes on Penn State first Wednesday at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. at 6 p.m., followed by its matchup with Ohio State Sunday at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio at 1 p.m.
