The Badgers' volleyball team (3-1 Big Ten, 11-4 overall) is back home this weekend to face one of their long-standing rivals and defending Big Ten Champions, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-2, 9-7). The Badgers meet the Iowa Hawkeyes (0-4, 5-9) Friday night and then face the Gophers Sunday afternoon.
Sunday is a big game for the Badgers, but they cannot overlook their first opponent, the Hawkeyes. Although the Hawkeyes have started 0-4 in the Big Ten, the Badgers expect some fierce competition from Iowa.
\I think it's a team that's really got its back against the wall and really wants to win and would love to win here,"" Head Coach Pete Waite said. ""We have to understand that they're going to raise their level up so we're going to have to do the same.""
The Badgers also agree that their offense and speed, along with ball handling, will be the key to beating the Hawkeyes.
""I think we have a really tough serving team and we should be able to keep them out of their offense, if we serve well against them I think we'll be pretty tough to stop,"" junior outside hitter Marian Weidner said.
Sunday's match against Minnesota is one that the Badgers look forward to every year. UW leads the long standing rivalry 28-23, and has a 15-9 record when facing Minnesota in Madison.
""We've always had a rivalry between the teams,"" Weidner said. ""That and the fact that they have suffered some tough losses, I'm sure they're going to be fired up to play us, especially in the Fieldhouse.""
Minnesota started off with five non-conference losses and began the Big Ten season with losses to both Indiana and Purdue. Last week they won their games against Northwestern and Illinois but still remain out of the rankings. Despite Minnesota starting slowly in the Big Ten, UW is not underestimating the defending Big Ten champions.
""I expect them to be a great team on the court,"" Waite said. ""They're still the defending Big Ten champs; they still return four out of six starters plus a defensive player who was an All-American last year. They're going to be great and our team is going to have to be really fired up for that match.""
The home court advantage should help the Badgers this weekend, especially with all of the extra fans in town for the Ohio State football game.
""Our large fan base always helps,"" Waite said. ""I'm thrilled that we're third in the country in attendance; we have great support from the city and I'd love to continue to see more student fans coming out because I think they'd have a great time.\
