Sports: Volleyball

Volleyball travels to Northwestern with confidence

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The Wisconsin volleyball team travels down to Northwestern today to compete in their fifth Big Ten match of the season.

The No. 21 Badgers (12-4, 2-2 Big Ten) are hoping to carry over their success from last weekend when they went 2-0 against Ohio State and Michigan.

“Absolutely that momentum is important,” head coach Pete Waite said. “Momentum is important because it brings confidence. Just the fact that we were down two sets and came back over the next three says a lot about the character of the team and the confidence that they have in each other. Going into this match we hope to build off those last two.”

“It is just all about competing and going out there and working hard,” sophomore setter Nikki Klingsporn added. “To gain momentum it all starts from point one, and we have to seize the momentum from the first serve.”

Though the Wildcats (6-9, 0-4 Big Ten) have lost their last five matches — including all four of their Big Ten contests — the Badgers believe they will need to bring their “A” game to NU to come out with a victory.

“Oh, definitely, I think they are a good team,” Klingsporn said. “We can’t take any team in the Big Ten lightly, because any team is capable of beating you, especially them being at home; it will be a great match up.”

The Wildcats are led on offense by middle blockers senior Chelsy Hyser and sophomore Sabel Moffett. The dangerous middles rank one and two, respectively, in kills, and NU channels their offense through them.

“They are a dangerous team,” Waite said. “It is not like they have been laying down for people; they have been battling the whole way, and they have some great, quick athletes we have to prepare for. Chelsy Hyser is one of the fastest middles in the conference, and they just run a very fast offense. They are a team that is definitely dangerous there at home.”

UW will enter the match against the Wildcats more at ease than it has been in the past few weeks. The Badgers admitted to feeling a little pressure to win last weekend, after starting out Big Ten play 0-2.

“It was kind of a relief,” Klingsporn said of sweeping last weekend. “We know that we can do it, but losing those first two kind of set us back a little bit. We have been working really hard, and it feels great to know our work is paying off in the Big Ten.”

Despite the two big wins last weekend, the Badgers believe improvement is needed in all areas of their game.

“We still need to cut down on the little errors that we make every once in a while,” Klingsporn said. “Our passing was a lot better, but it can still improve. We need everyone to improve on their game, and that will help the team aspect. In this league you need to improve every week if you want to continue winning.”

“In every position we need to be a little more clean with what we are doing,” Waite echoed. “If we can keep improving, then we will be fine.”