With her softball team off to one of its best starts in program history, head coach Chandelle Schulte addressed the media Monday, a day before the Badger home opener.
UW began the season on a favorable note, posting winning records at four different tournament venues. Schulte said at her press conference that, overall, she that the team was satisfied, yet not complacent, with its early play.
""I always think we can do better,"" she said. ""You have your record and then you have your coaches record. In my head we had the opportunity to win two or three or more of those games. I think that's just time and experience.
""We're doing well. I think we're happy. But we're not content. We realize going into Big Ten play...that we have to be at our best. We understand that we have a lot to accomplish in the next six weeks.""
Schulte noted that the goals for the season are twofold â_ make the Big Ten tournament and qualify for an NCAA regional bid. At this point, she said, the players are upbeat on those prospects.
""They are very optimistic about where they see us in the Big Ten,"" she said of the team members. ""That has a lot to do with just believing in yourself and the system. Right now, they're pretty on track with where they thought they would be and where we are.""
Before the Big Ten gets afoot this weekend, though, the Badgers will match up against Loyola, a team UW has historically dominated. Against the Ramblers, UW is 19-1-1 all time, including a doubleheader sweep last season in Chicago. But UW is unlikely to overlook their struggling opponent, which brings a 4-11 record to Madison.
""Tomorrow against Loyola, it'll be a test for us,"" Schulte said. ""They've played an exceptional schedule. It's fostering that belief and that attitude that we play at our own level. It doesn't matter what your opponent's jersey says.""
The Badgers will be playing their 12th home opener on the heels of impressive showings in Arizona, Texas, Georgia and Florida. Schulte credited the solid start to the players embracing a team mentality.
""It's an interesting team in that I don't really know that there's one individual each day that carries us,"" she remarked. ""It's really 16. And that's kind of our motto â_"" 16 strong. As long as the majority of us show up on a given day, we're going to do well.""
Still, UW's season to this point has featured standout individual performances. On offense, junior outfielder Katie Hnatyk has belted a conference-leading nine home runs. She is only two shy of the Badger record. Hnatyk also leads the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.863) and RBI per game (1.18)
On defense, senior pitcher Eden Brock, at 8-4, has recorded a second-best 108 strikeouts and the fourth-lowest ERA in the conference, at 1.62.
With the combination of those individual efforts and steady contributions from others, Schulte said Badgers have the ability to be an up-and-coming team this year.
This season, she said,""I think Wisconsin is getting noticed.""
