The 10-0 Wisconsin volleyball team is set to face Green Bay tonight in one final warm up before Big Ten play starts next week. The Phoenix (3-8) are struggling as a team this season but have a slew of talented individuals.
While there are plenty more games to play yet this season, for now, a perfect record has been a huge boost to the team.
""I think the record has been a huge thing for us. It's giving us a lot of confidence. We have a lot of young players, a lot of freshmen on the court. I think for them definitely it's a huge confidence boost. For us upper classmen, it's something we've never been through either,"" senior Allison Wack said.
Sophomore Alexis Mitchell knows the pressure is entirely on the Badgers in tonight's contest, facing a smaller school with a sub-.500 record. However, Green Bay came out fierce last year when the two teams faced each other, and Wisconsin expects much the same this year.
""It's all going to be on our side of the net and us working on being perfect- good passing, good hitting, good setting, just putting it all together so we can prepare ourselves for Big Ten [play],"" Mitchell said.
Mitchell, meanwhile, is just about the epitome of putting it all together this season as the Davenport, Iowa native has strung together the best four weeks in her college career so far. In ten games, Mitchell leads the team in hitting percentage at .442, while ranking third in the Big Ten and fourteenth in the nation in that category.
""If there's been a most improved player in just the first month of the season, it's Alexis. She's had a really break out three or four weeks where something turned on in her head in which she became much more disciplined with her approach angles, her shot selection,"" head coach Pete Waite said. ""Just her composure on the court has been incredible. It's been fun for the entire team to watch and our fans to see a big difference.""
At 10 wins, the Badgers are just one victory away from matching their season total in 2009. In fact, Wisconsin has improved in nearly every major statistical category this year over the last including gaining more 90 points in hitting percentage and averaging nearly two more kills per game.
Additionally, the Badgers have only dropped a total of two sets this entire season, winning 30. Mitchell admitted that while playing non-conference foes, it's important for the team to focus on winning in as dominating fashion as possible in order to prepare for the tough Big Ten play ahead.
""I think that we can use that momentum to carry us on into Big Ten [play] knowing that we can do that to teams,"" Mitchell said.
""It's more for us in our minds; the level of play we're putting together on the court,"" Waite said. ""We know the Big Ten season is five steps up from where we've been, but we feel good about the balance of our attack.""
Friday is also student night at the Field House. UW students will receive free admission to the game, while the first 50 will receive free hot dog and soda coupons.
