Last Sunday the Wisconsin volleyball team (2-2 Big Ten, 8-4 overall) gave six-year Head Coach Pete Waite a 45th birthday gift-a 3 games to 1 win over then-No. 19 Illinois. This week, the team hopes to add icing to Waite's cake by defeating the Minnesota Gophers (3-1, 14-2) and the Iowa Hawkeyes (1-3, 9-6).
A win over the No. 3 Gophers Friday would taste even sweeter than last week's upset.
\That's almost like asking for Christmas coming a little early this year. Beating Illinois was a great win,"" said Waite, who also shared his birthday with assistant coach Christy Johnson. ""But, going to Minnesota and winning, as highly ranked as they are, would be a great win for us. We're totally capable of it.""
The Badgers are currently sixth in the Big Ten conference. They opened the Big Ten season with losses against No. 9 Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State. However, last week, they not only beat Illinois but also dominated Northwestern 3-0.
In the Northwestern match, Waite switched starting freshman setter Jackie Simpson for sophomore Katie Lorenzen. Lorenzen's first career start sparked the Badger team. She notched a career-high 61 assists, as well as adding nine digs, four blocks and two aces. She only played a ""couple of points last year"" versus Minnesota and is ready to assist her team to victories this weekend.
""I'm really excited about it. I've been working for a couple of years and not really playing, just trying to get caught up at the collegiate level,"" Lorenzen said. ""And now it's paying off.""
The Badgers must perform at their highest level this weekend. Both the Gophers and the Hawkeyes are formidable foes.
Minnesota's only losses have come at the hands of No. 2 USC and Ohio State. The Gophers beat Wisconsin 3-2 and 3-1 last year. Waite knows the team from the Twin Cities will be difficult to conquer.
""They are one of the top teams because they have a variety of weapons. Defensively, (junior) Paula Gentil is possibly the best libero in the country and she just picks up a lot of balls,"" Waite said. ""They also have good-sized blockers.""
Gentil has 410 digs so far this season. However, she will be challenged by Wisconsin's front row, which is not too shabby. Led by junior Shelia Shaw, who averages 4.07 kills and 1.43 blocks per game, and freshman Taylor Reineke, the Badgers have a talented middle-blocking duo.
Iowa, though not as highly touted as the Gophers, has not been blocked from the mind of the Wisconsin team. The Hawkeyes, currently eighth in the Big Ten, already have won more matches this season than they did in 2003 (6-24). Waite said much of their success is due to the better organization and training by first-year Head Coach Cindy Fredrick. Waite's players listened to his words.
""The Big Ten is extremely tough. Everyone is good this year,"" junior outside hitter Aubrey Meierotto said. ""We will focus on Friday and then emphasize Saturday. We are not looking past Iowa.""
However, it is also clear that the Badgers primarily want to spike down the golden glow of the Gophers.
""We can always get better and we are on a winning streak now,"" continued Meierotto, who used to play club volleyball with four members of Minnesota's team. ""It's always such a good game and especially since they are ranked so high right now. I think the last time we beat them was my freshman year (Fall 2001). Wisconsin and Minnesota: It's always a big game.""
