Surviving ‘gauntlet’ key to Wisconsin volleyball’s Big Ten title hunt

On Nov 18, 2022

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MADISON – The marathon that is the Big Ten race is almost over for Wisconsin’s volleyball team, but the toughest part has been saved for last. Here is a taste of what is on deck.

Four conference road games to close the regular season.

Three ranked opponents, including two that are locked in a three-way battle for the conference championship with the Badgers.

Back-to-backs on both weekends to complete a run of three straight to end the year.

The stretch is unique. Every other Big Ten team except UW and Minnesota has at least one home match during this stretch. And among the top contenders for the title – UW, Ohio State and Nebraska – Wisconsin is the only team with back-to-backs both weekends.

Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield called it a gauntlet.

“I can never recall an end of season quite like what we’ve got in front of us with the last four matches on the road, the amount of travel that we’ve got in the short turnaround and three of those teams being in the top 15 of the country,” Sheffield said. “It should be an exciting stretch down here.”

A fourth straight Big Ten title is within reach

Should UW survive, it would make history. A Big Ten crown would be the program’s fourth straight. Only Penn State’s eight-year run (2003-10) is longer – the Nittany Lions also had a four-year run from 1996-99. There is also the matter of the NCAA tournament and the chance to earn a top four seed that would allow the Badgers to host the first and second rounds and, should they advance, the regional.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. Friday at Rutgers.

“You’ve got to get your rest. It’s the boring stuff that you’ve got to take care of,” Sheffield said. “You have to take care of your body and be ready to go. Scouting report has to be ready to go. (The players) have got to be able to digest it. It’s what you sign up for when you come into this league.”

More:Danielle Hart’s senior moment leads our weekly look at Wisconsin volleyball

What Wisconsin is experiencing is one of the quirks of the Big Ten schedule. On two other occasions during Sheffield’s 10 seasons the Badgers closed the regular season with four road matches, in 2013 and ’18. The schedule quirks have worked both ways, though. Last season Wisconsin played three of its final four at home, part of a run of five of six at home.

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