[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]This Saturday, the ninth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team will travel to Ann Arbor to face 10th-ranked Michigan. The Badgers have opened the season 9-1 and recorded their first Big Ten victory against Illinois Wednesday. The last time the Badgers opened their conference season with only one loss was in 2000 when they reached the reached the NCAA Championship. Their only loss so far this season came against 15th-ranked BYU in August.

Playing a ranked team can add a lot of pressure to the game, especially when it is a Big Ten rival. However, the players are not feeling it.

"I don't think there's pressure because playing in the Big Ten; you are always playing someone who is ranked, and everybody is a tough competitor," middle blocker and outside hitter Audra Jeffers said. "It's something we are just used to. Every game is a battle. I don't think we are going to go in there feeling nervous or under pressure. We are just going to go out there and compete like we always do."

As the Badgers have progressed deeper into the season, the team has begun to come together a little more every week. They have been spending a lot of time on the court, learning the different formations so they can begin to work together as a unit. However, it is not a time for the team to let down their guard and forget what they have been working on during the nonconference season.

"This is the time to buckle down and get focused, because this is what we have been waiting for and what we have been training for throughout the preseason," co-captain Tayor Reineke said.

The Wolverines are off to their best start in school history. They are currently 12-0 and are ranked the highest they have ever been. Freshman setter Lexi Zimmerman is averaging 13.63 assists per game.

"They have a new setter who is very good," assistant coach Rod Wilde said. "It's like having a really good quarterback, you just have more options out there when you have a good setter. She is good at distributing to any of the five hitters that she's got."

Michigan is also led by senior Katie Brudzinski, who leads the team with an average of 4.42 kills per game.

"Brudzinski is one of their top outside hitters," Wilde said. "It's her fourth year in the Big Ten, and she has always been ranked high in the conference. She is the heart and soul of that team."

On the Badgers' side of the net, freshman outside hitter Allison Wack is the player to watch. Against Illinois, she came off the bench to net 13 kills. This season, she has appeared in all 10 matches, averaging 2.5 kills per contest.

"Al Wack came and played very, very well against Illinois [Wednesday] night and offered us a step up," Wilde said. "Any time you can get good bench play, particularly from freshmen, that's going to be a positive"

Among the things the Badgers need to improve, Wilde suggests they need to be more consistent. In the matchup against Illinois, Wisconsin's attack percentage fluctuated from game to game.

In the first two games, their team attack was below .300. But during games 3 and 4, they had a .360 and a .378 team attack percentage. On defense, they allowed the Illini 28 kills, but held them to less than 20 for the rest of the match.

Although they haven't played a home game since Aug. 25, the Badgers do not seem any worse for the wear. Wilde said that it’s nice to get the team away from Madison and away from the distractions of family and friends. He said that the seniors have been able to keep the team focused and prepared for each game. However, this does not mean that they do not miss "The Block Party" at the Field House.

"We love the fans here," Reineke said. "They are like the seventh player on the court. They pump us up so much, and we are definitely looking forward to playing in front of our fans."