Following a sweep of Duquense, Chicago State, and Loyola at the Field House last weekend in the Inntowner Invitational, the undefeated Wisconsin volleyball team travels to the Cream City Friday and Saturday to face a trio of teams in the Milwaukee Invitational.
The 6-0 Badgers are one of just four teams still undefeated in the Big Ten. Only Illinois, Indiana, and Penn State can claim zeros in the loss column. In fact, Wisconsin has yet to even lose a set. In the conference, only No. 1 ranked Penn State can also boast that fact. Overall, just 26 teams nationally have yet to lose a match.
And while the team's perfect record is definitely fueling energy for the Badgers, the players know that there is plenty of hard work yet to be put in this season.
""We want to keep that zero there and keep adding to the six, so we have to work even harder every week, every day,"" said sophomore Alexis Mitchell.
The Badger's next test will be Friday night against UW-Milwaukee at the Klotsche Center. After beginning their season 2-0, the Panthers have lost four straight, including a defeat at the hands of No. 13 Iowa State last Friday.
UWM, who finished 16-15 last year and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, will be playing their first home game of the season when they face Wisconsin. All-time, the Badgers are 21-5 against UWM, but the Panthers have won four of seven in Milwaukee.
Saturday afternoon, Wisconsin will face Central Michigan at the Al McGuire Center on the Marquette University campus. The Chippewas are 3-3 this season and have won their last three matches, claiming the Youngstown State Invitational last weekend. Central Michigan lost only one set in that tournament.
The Badgers finish the Milwaukee Invitational Saturday night when they compete against Toledo. The 5:30 p.m. contest at the Klotsche Center will be the first meeting ever between the two teams. The Rockets are 4-2 on the season, including an upset of then No. 12 ranked Michigan on Aug. 28.
When asked in what area the team was performing at its best so far, both Mitchell and head coach Pete Waite had two different responses.
""Our passing is just great. We are getting tons of opportunities to score and a lot more than last year, and we are just going after it when we get those good passes,"" said Mitchell.
And although Waite agreed that the team's passing has been phenomenal thus far, the coach looked to a broad team unity as the team's top strength.
""After our Saturday match here at home, we were able to see the team come together as a unit where everyone was playing well at the same time,"" said Waite. ""That was really nice to see.""
The Badgers will not face Marquette in this weekend's invitational, but the team will see action against fellow in-state rival, UWM. The players understand there is pride on the line in claiming bragging rights within the state.
""We are the biggest university in Wisconsin, and so when you are playing against a smaller school you just want to hold that up and beat them in three and get it done and over with,"" said Mitchell.
