Sept. 2, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- After the starting the season 3-0, sweeping all three matches, the Wisconsin volleyball team is looking to continue its season-opening winning streak. The Badgers open the home season by hosting the 19th-annual InnTowner Invitational on Friday-Saturday in the UW Field House. UW (3-0) takes on Duquesne (4-0), Chicago State (0-4) and Loyola Chicago (1-2) in the round-robin tournament.
Wisconsin is 45-5 in 18 tournament appearances and has won 14 invitational titles. The Badgers struggled last season in their season-opening tournament, going 1-2 and finishing third.
“This gives us a chance to get some other players on the court and start, let them define some roles that they’re going to have,” explains Coach Pete Waite of the field this weekend. “Some people are right on the brink of breaking into the lineup, but I’m happy to say it’s tougher (to break into the starting lineup) than it was a year ago.”
Three freshman earn starting roles
The Badgers started three freshman last weekend at the Tribe Invitational, led by outside hitter Elise Walch, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player. The 6-5 Walch averaged 4.78 kills per set, hitting .459.
“She put up big numbers,” said Waite of Walch. “And when people around here start seeing her play, they’ll realize this kid can hit the heck out of the ball. And it’s really hard to block, it’s really hard to dig. If it comes to a defender, it usually bounces off them and goes somewhere. They’ve really got to be ready for one of her best hits. She maybe the hardest hitter we’ve had in the program.”
In addition to Walch, freshmen Dominique Thompson and Julie Mikaelsen earned starting roles in the middle and right side respectively. Thompson, a 5-11 middle blocker, earned her first all-tournament honor, leading the team with 1.22 blocks per set and a .528 hitting percentage. Mikaelsen added 2.00 kills and 1.56 digs per set. Freshman Annemarie Hickey, a 5-8 defensive specialist, also played in all nine sets, serving and playing back row for Walch.
“(We) saw a lot of young players on the court that we were waiting to see and see how they’d react to things and there are definitely some issues just as far as flow between players,” explained Waite about the first tournament. “But overall, the young ones came through with some high hitting percentages (and) better defense. I think we’re more solid all-around than we were a year ago.”
Defense improves
Junior Janelle Gabrielsen also earned all-tournament honors, averaging 11.44 assists and 3.44 digs per set. Gabrielsen set the Badger offense to a .301 team hitting percentage, which Waite credited to better defense.
“(Our passers) were much more solid than I think we were throughout the season last year,” said Waite. “And it’s a good start for them getting to know each other on the court too, because you’ve got seams between passers you have to get used to who’s taking what, but overall it was solid.
“That’s really what turns over the offense. If you pass well, you can run a better offense. It all just starts flowing together, starting with the passers and the defenders starting the play.”
Senior Kim Kuzma averaged an impressing 5.67 digs per set while Hickey added 2.33 digs per set. The Badgers were aced only nine times in 163 attempts last weekend.
Goal for this weekend
So what is Waite expecting for this weekend?
“These first couple of weekends are going to let this team start forming their bonds and their chemistry and their strength within themselves, not just the starters, but who’s coming off the bench and playing different roles,” said Waite.
“The competitiveness in the practice is much higher than last year because a lot of the freshmen have stepped on the court, which means the people who were starting last year now are competing for that spot again and want to get back on the court. That just raises the level of everybody. The chemistry is still good. They’re having fun off the court and that’s a good sign for the conference play.”
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