With a 6-0 record under its belt and the first national top 25 ranking since 2008, the Badger volleyball team heads home with preseason momentum to the 22nd InnTowner Invitational at the University of Wisconsin Field House.
Undefeated with first-year head coach Kelly Sheffield at the helm, Wisconsin opens its home schedule Friday night against Kansas (4-3) for the Student Block Party, with students receiving free admission and pizza.
“Coming up, we’ve got a heck of a test [against Kansas],” Sheffield said in a press conference Monday. “That’s a team that returns everybody but one starter from a top-10 RPI team. We’ve got our hands full.”
UW is coming off a 3-0 victory over No. 17 Louisville at the North Dakota State Invitational, and looks to attract a crowd for Friday night’s matchup.
“The Field House is known throughout the country as having an unbelievable fan base,” Sheffield said. “I know people are passionate about this sport around here.”
During the game Wisconsin held the Cardinals to a .087 kill percentage, aided by freshman setter Lauren Carlini’s first double-double for Wisconsin.
Saturday morning UW returns to the Field house for a matchup against in-state rival UW-Milwaukee (3-3), who last weekend took the Akron Invitational championship.
Junior setter Courtney Thomas leads the team with 139 assists, her preferred target being junior outside hitter Ellen Chapman, whose 92 kills also lead the Badgers through six games.
Wisconsin wraps up the InnTowner tournament Saturday evening with a matchup against Bowling Green (1-4).
The Badgers have just one more weekend of nonconference play following the InnTowner before their Big Ten season opens against Purdue at home.
For Sheffield, this weekend represents a chance to work out the kinks before the conference schedule heats up.
“We’re a work in progress,” Sheffield said. “I mean, it’s very, very clear. We’re giving away points at times that just because the lack of familiarity … but this team’s got potential to be a lot better once they get in the gym together.”
