[media-credit name=’BEN CLASSON/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]After a short home stand, the ninth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team will hit the road again this weekend for matches against Minnesota and Iowa.

On Friday, the Badgers face the 11th-ranked Gophers, who are third in the Big Ten with a 12-4 overall record and 5-1 in the conference. Minnesota’s only conference loss came against Big Ten leader Penn State Oct. 6.

The game will be the 10th this year the Badgers have played on the road, compared to five at home. The experience they have had during road games has helped them prepare for the hostile environment at the Minnesota Sports Pavilion, where the Gophers play their home games.

"We know we are packing our bags and getting ready to hit the road [Friday,] and it feels comfortable," head coach Pete Waite said. "It feels fine, and the players are very good at getting on any opponent's floor and going after the other team, rather than worrying about the environment."

The match has significance in both the Big Ten standings and with the senior class. The UW seniors have never won a match at Minnesota, which gives the team an added incentive to win.

"There is an extra motivation for the seniors because we haven't won at Minnesota yet," co-captain Jocelyn Wack said. "That's something that's really exciting, just to take care of our side and go in there and play well. It's something we haven't done in the last three years."

The Gophers have already had a lot of success this year and have moved up to 11th in the CSTV/AVCA polls. Other than their loss to Penn State, their only other losses have come against powerhouses Stanford and California.

The Gophers have several players who present a challenge to the Badgers. Middle blocker Jesse Jones, who missed the last match with an ankle injury, is listed as questionable according to the Minnesota volleyball website, but Waite believes that Minnesota will play her this weekend because of the importance of the match. Jones ranks second in the Big Ten in blocks, averaging 1.73 per game.

The Hakweyes, who are last place in the Big Ten, could prove to be a sleeper team. They have already defeated Michigan, who is ranked No. 15 in the nation and is fourth in the Big Ten.

"It's big because we know it's not just about one match going up to Minnesota and playing, but it's about the Big Ten race in both matches," Waite said.

Juniors Emily Hiza and Laura Kremer are the players to watch for Iowa. Hiza ranks sixth in the Big Ten in digs, averaging 4.35 per game, while Kremer is sixth in the Big Ten in blocks with 1.35 per game.

"They're scrappy. They always have been," Wack said. "Especially it being the match after Minnesota, you don't want to play down to anybody's level. You don't want to take anyone for granted."

In practice this week, the Badgers have not changed much of their game plan. Waite said they went through some video to see what the tendencies of each teams were. Other than that, the team made sure they had the basics down for the matches this weekend.

"You know, we don't want to change too much of what we are doing because I think we are doing things well," Waite said. "We just really need to attack with our serve and pass well, and stay composed throughout match and really be hungry to win. That's going to be the important part."

One thing the Badgers are not doing is looking ahead to next week, when Penn State comes to the Field House. If Wisconsin comes away with a sweep this weekend, it will make next weekend's match one of the most anticipated of the season. But the volleyball team knows they need to take it one game at a time.

"I don't think the team is looking forward at all to the Penn State match," Waite said. "I know there is talk about their friends coming and a big crowd. There will be a lot of students coming out, and it's high school team day, but that's [not] what they are thinking about. They are thinking about Minnesota [and] Iowa right now. Once that's over, they can think about them next weekend."