Spring Break
Setting up for a title run in Oshkosh
Volleyball team is No. 2 seed for WIAC?tournament
Luke Ryan
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Sports
|
"We've got to be consistent," Boudreau said. "We've got a lot of firepower. We have a very good team, so it's just a matter of us going out and executing. Not making mistakes is really the thing."
That goal will be put to the test Friday at 5 p.m. when the 'Hawks seek to win their third conference tournament in the last four years at UW-Oshkosh.
Since the 'Hawks (29-6) finished 6-2 in the WIAC, Boudreau's squad enters its opening-round match as the No. 2 seed.
Along with first-place UW-Oshkosh, UW-Whitewater, the No. 6-ranked team in the country, received the two first round byes.
And like her coach, sophomore libero Alyssa Bauer, who is second in the WIAC in digs, understands what has to be done to win the tournament.
"I think the key to our success is playing consistently," Bauer said. "As long as we play aggressive, and we don't make as many errors, there's no limit."
If the 'Hawks win Friday, they will play in the championship Saturday for the right to earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.
UW-Whitewater earned an at-large berth into the national tournament in 2008.
But to earn the bid, the 'Hawks might have to go through UW-Oshkosh - the former No. 1-ranked team in the country - in the championship match.
Although the 'Hawks defeated the Titans a couple weeks ago at home, they suffered one of their two WIAC losses at UW-Oshkosh on Sept. 23.
But Bauer is excited for the challenge.
"We lost to Oshkosh a couple times on their home court, so I think we're definitely out to get them," Bauer said. "Hopefully everything goes well."
Boudreau said the team is looking forward to playing in that atmosphere.
"Our kids like to play in front of a big crowd, whether it's a positive crowd or a negative crowd," Boudreau said. "I think they're going to be pumped up and ready to go."
Be the first to comment on this story