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Post by rainbowbadger on Oct 8, 2014 13:03:26 GMT -5
Sheffield was on the Wisconsin Women's Sports Hour with Teri Barr and Diane last night, and they interviewed Sheff. Here's a link if you want to listen. The VB segment is the first 20 minutes or so, with Sheff coming on around the 11 minute mark. www.thebig1070.com/media/podcast-wisconsin-womens-sports-hour-wisconsinwomens/wi-womans-sports-hour-100714-25397613/Highlights: According to the first RPI, we're #5 in strength of schedule. According to Sheff, this "proves we can take a beating." Our goal is to be a seeded team so we can host 1st & 2nd rounds, so it's important for us to schedule tough. Sheff On the B1G: "Everybody is beating up on everybody." Need to be good consistently, night in and night out. On any given night, anyone could beat anyone, so the team that is ready to go every night is the team that is going to win. Tuesday was one of the rare days when the could be in the gym and get into heavy reps. Usually they are having their practices disrupted because of Wednesday matches, but this week they do not play until Friday. This past Sunday was the off-day, and Monday they just had a lifting session and a meeting, so they could get more into reps on Tuesday because everyone was rested. They're really trying to be mindful of reps. The players feel more pressure in practice because they know they have to make every single rep count. Attendence is amazing. This year we set a record for the most fans at a season opener. PSU was a sell-out. The Ohio State match was on a sunny 82-degree Sunday afternoon in the middle of a Packers/Bears game, and they had >4k people there. The crowd isn't just big, it's loud and it's helping the team by creating momentum. The team recognizes it. [Note on that: We're 3rd nationally for attendence right now, after Nebraska and Hawai'i.] Teri will be filling in for Bonnie at PA on Sunday's match against Maryland.
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Post by Wiswell on Oct 9, 2014 8:51:04 GMT -5
Couple of articles, first a really sweet article on Julie MIkaelsen host.madison.com/sports/college/volleyball/badgers-volleyball-bad-break-has-positive-outcome-for-julie-mikaelsen/article_41765c83-e467-5409-8383-cf0991d66d86.htmlHere's an article on the badger fan bus. There are still some spots for Iowa. Let me tell you, I've been to a couple of away games, and it is actually a lot of fun. It's kind of a family affair as it becomes kind of close knit with the actual family members (and they are really glad to see non-family fans). The NIU match in 2010 was one of my favorite. badgerherald.com/sports/2014/10/09/badger-fan-bus-hopes-to-bring-volleyball-fans-on-the-road/#.VDaQjtJ3s-UIn fact, I am going to obnoxiously post the text here, courtesy of the Badger Herald. What a first match to see as a fan! I was hooked after watching the Inntowner (although I had watched them in the 2000 finals): Badger Fan Bus hopes to bring volleyball fans on the road
Andrea and Corey Singletary were thrilled to fly out to Seattle to watch their beloved Badgers participate in the National Championship Game last December. What they weren’t pleased with was the lack of Wisconsin red in the stands.
After planning a road trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament in Champaign, Illinois, the couple was disheartened to see the lack of Badger support. When the team advanced to the national semifinal and final matches in Seattle, they contacted University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Athletic Department to help them get fans to Seattle.
The endeavor didn’t pan out the way the couple hoped, so the Singletarys took it upon themselves to ensure road support for the Badgers this season. This has all been without financial backing or sponsorship from the UW volleyball program or the university.
The Badger Fan Bus was born.
The Badger Fan Bus is a simple idea that hopes to bring UW volleyball fans, both students and non-students, on road trips to cheer on the volleyball team. After consulting with the Wisconsin Athletic Department, Badger Fan Bus decided to lease from Badger Bus because of its Wi-Fi capabilities and DirecTV subscription on select buses. This is so fans can keep up with other Badger games, such as football, while traveling to away matches, Andrea explained.
Based on a preseason survey on likely travelers conducted by the couple, they decided tickets would not sell for more than $60. However, tickets can drop as low as $30 per seat if the bus fills up, Corey said. Badger Fan Bus is a non-profit group.
The first trip for the Badger Fan Bus this season was to Northwestern Oct. 1, when 19 rowdy Badger fans made the trip on the bus to Evanston, Illinois. The Badgers won the match in a three-set sweep.
“It was a small but energetic group,” Corey said. “Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.”
Terry and Marie Adams have had season tickets for all but three of the last 15 seasons, and after taking their kids to games, they now take their grandchildren. They were among the group that went on the maiden voyage to Northwestern.
“It appealed to us right away,” Terry said of the Badger Fan Bus. “When we heard about this, we jumped on the bandwagon. When we can, we want to make these trips. It was fun!”
For Marie Adams, the bus allows for a social environment without the stress that comes with driving when fans take to the road to follow the UW volleyball team.
“You don’t have to worry about the driving. It’s all taken care of,” Marie said.
The next trip for the bus was scheduled for Illinois this past weekend. However, due to lack of participation, the trip was cancelled, although Wisconsin would take the match in four sets.
That lack of participation stems from a variety of circumstances, one being little student participation. The ultimate goal would be to have the students involved traveling to away matches, just like the University of Illinois’ “Spike Squad” does, Andrea said. Seeing other student sections passionate about volleyball was another driving force for the creation of Badger Fan Bus.
Rewind to Oct. 27, 2013. It is the day after Freakfest, and UW students are either nursing hangovers or still asleep. Opposite the nearly empty Wisconsin student section is a large group of Illini students at the UW Field House who harassed the Badgers the entire match. Wisconsin ended up losing the match in four sets.
“We felt like it would be great, especially if we could get student involvement, and bring [students] along,” Andrea said. “Students like road trips.”
“I think that if we could get some students who were interested in helping us out, that would give us the ability to market to that core audience,” Andrea added.
The Singletarys are doing everything they can to engage students, but have hit a roadblock because they are considered an athletic booster club. The only sports that permit boosters are men’s basketball and football.
The booster label has greatly inhibited advertising efforts. For example, the Wisconsin volleyball Twitter handle (badgervb) cannot retweet or promote the Badger Fan Bus (badgervb_FanBus) on social media. And since the group is not considered a registered student organization, they are prohibited from posting fliers around campus or in residence halls.
Andrea said the last thing the Singletarys want is for the team or the Wisconsin Athletic Department to get in trouble. In order to even sign up for a trip, fans must sign a waiver stating they acknowledge the bus is in no way affiliated with the volleyball program and the Wisconsin Athletic Department, Corey said.
“We try on our end to make it very easy for the athletic department to not have to worry about what we’re doing,” Corey said.
Another cause of limited participation is conflict with UW football games. That was the case this past Saturday when many fans made the trip to Evanston to cheer on the Badger football team, instead of Champaign for the volleyball game. The longer trips will only logically occur on weekends. For example, the next trip, planned for Iowa on Saturday November 15th, is the same day Wisconsin takes on Nebraska at Camp Randall.
Corey, 36, grew up in Hawaii where volleyball games on Friday and Saturday nights were must-see events.
“When I came up here for college, I just brought that with me,” Corey said.
He said the Wisconsin volleyball team deserves the same recognition and following as football and men’s basketball, since he said he feels it is one of the more elite programs on campus.
Corey convinced Andrea, 33, to go to a game with him Halloween 2006. That night, the Badgers swept Penn State in front of a rocking UW Field House — and she was hooked.
Corey and Andrea have already had positive feedback from people within the program, such as head coach Kelly Sheffield and Director of Operations Jessica Yanz.
Propelling Wisconsin volleyball into the category of “mainstream” on campus will be a challenge. But for people like the Singletarys and the Adamses (and many more), volleyball already lies in the forefront of popularity.
“It’s addicting,” Terry Adams said. “Most people come back because it’s just something you like to watch.”
The best-case scenario for the Singletarys?
“The dream scenario in our mind is that the university sees enough interest here that something happens [within the Athletic Department],” Corey said.
Another favorable outcome would be the formation of a student organization on campus, much like the “Spike Squad.”
“That would be great to just have that kind of organic support at the university and in the community,” Corey said.
With volleyball being a momentum-driven sport, crowd support, even on the road, is necessary for a team’s psyche and success.
“The teams feed off it,” Corey said. “The elite teams in the Big Ten feed off that energy.”
Seeing the player’s appreciation for the devoted fan base makes all of the planning, trials and traveling all worth it for the Singletarys.
“Seeing them look up to see that sea of red behind their bench, and you see the smile on the player’s faces,” Andrea said. “They know we got their backs on the road.”
Andrea’s final message to fans?
“Come try it out. You won’t be sorry.”
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Post by rainbowbadger on Oct 10, 2014 10:08:34 GMT -5
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Post by Wiswell on Oct 10, 2014 10:18:07 GMT -5
Sometimes I worry about those players who absolutely dominate like that in high school. It takes them a while to figure out that they can't just smash the ball and expect a point every time, but actually need some strategy. Over the years I've certainly some freshman get the "pouts" or be overly frustrated they aren't always successful.
Also, I hope her arm doesn't fall off!
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Post by SportyBucky on Oct 10, 2014 11:27:29 GMT -5
Sometimes I worry about those players who absolutely dominate like that in high school. It takes them a while to figure out that they can't just smash the ball and expect a point every time, but actually need some strategy. Over the years I've certainly some freshman get the "pouts" or be overly frustrated they aren't always successful. Also, I hope her arm doesn't fall off! Yeah, but most play high level club ball and learn that lesson as they travel and play other really good players. Mariah may not given where she's from. No idea.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Oct 10, 2014 11:44:23 GMT -5
Sometimes I worry about those players who absolutely dominate like that in high school. It takes them a while to figure out that they can't just smash the ball and expect a point every time, but actually need some strategy. Over the years I've certainly some freshman get the "pouts" or be overly frustrated they aren't always successful. Also, I hope her arm doesn't fall off! Yeah, but most play high level club ball and learn that lesson as they travel and play other really good players. Mariah may not given where she's from. No idea. Mariah plays for Wisconsin Volleyball Academy. As a freshman, she played up on the 16s team that competes in the Open division. I'm not sure how WVA stacks up against other club teams, but she does play for a traveling team.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 3:54:59 GMT -5
Shef gets candid...:
On the blocking in tonight’s match: "Kelli Bates is doing a little bit better job of listening to her head coach and when she does that good things start happening for her. Kelli is a really stubborn kid. You have heard of those candies that have a thick shell, well that’s Kelli Bates. She has a thick shell. We have had to chip away at that she is starting to listen. When she does that then magical things start happening for her."
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Post by rainbowbadger on Oct 11, 2014 7:24:08 GMT -5
LOLOLOLOLOL
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Post by wibadgervbfan on Oct 14, 2014 7:04:05 GMT -5
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Post by rainbowbadger on Oct 14, 2014 7:19:13 GMT -5
Darn. At least she is redshirting. I hope she comes back as strong as she was before. So I guess that means that recruiting is done for 2016. The only available scholarship will be the one vacated by Morey, which we think is going to ME Dodge. Then we'll need to grab another hitter or a middle to join Hilley, Loberg & Whalen in 2017. I'd think he'd want a middle. As it is, that year we're replacing a setter and 2 middles with a setter and 2 outsides.
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Post by Wiswell on Oct 14, 2014 8:29:04 GMT -5
Assuming she does (she's on the right, correct?) Fricano might be wondering if she'll ever see the court.
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Post by vbnerd on Oct 14, 2014 9:09:48 GMT -5
Kriskova is an OH. Presumably she'll compete with Madison Duello, Julia Saunders and maybe Tionna Williams (not sure where they want to put her) for the OH spot opposite Bates, and Fricano will probably step in on the RS for Thomas.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Oct 14, 2014 9:18:55 GMT -5
Kriskova is an OH. Presumably she'll compete with Madison Duello, Julia Saunders and maybe Tionna Williams (not sure where they want to put her) for the OH spot opposite Bates, and Fricano will probably step in on the RS for Thomas. Kriskova played opposite her freshman year at VCU. Next year's potential pin hitters: Kriskova - OH/RS(?) - Jr Bates - OH - So Fricano - OH/RS - So Duello - OH - Fr Saunders - OH/RS - Fr Tionna Williams - MB/RS(?) - Fr Brooke Morgan - MB/RS(?) - Fr From comments Fricano's made, I think she'd prefer to hit from the left. But I agree that she seems more comfortable on the right. My very early speculation is that Kriskova plays L1, Duello challenges Bates for playing time at L2, Fricano and Saunders and maybe either Williams or Morgan complete for RS. Nelson moves to MB1, and Blake competes with Williams/Morgan for MB2.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2014 10:40:28 GMT -5
Kriskova is an OH. Presumably she'll compete with Madison Duello, Julia Saunders and maybe Tionna Williams (not sure where they want to put her) for the OH spot opposite Bates, and Fricano will probably step in on the RS for Thomas. My very early speculation is that Kriskova plays L1, Duello challenges Bates for playing time at L2, Fricano and Saunders complete for RS. Nelson moves to MB1, and Williams and Blake compete for MB2. Ya'll are forgetting about Brooke Morgan, who will be competing for a spot. She and Williams are very good middles. both have some experience OH. Duello will probably be starting, Kriscova is also a good RS.
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 14, 2014 11:06:47 GMT -5
That is too bad about Kriskova. I hope she has a full recovery.
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