The No. 24 Ohio State women's volleyball team returns home this weekend for matches against Big Ten foes No. 15 Wisconsin and Northwestern.
The injury-plagued team is ready to get back to its home floor after starting out the Big Ten schedule with four straight losses dating back to Sept. 25.
"We definitely don't like losing, but I'm not disappointed in my team," said Jim Stone, OSU women's volleyball coach.
The team had a difficult time on the road trip — they had to play without five players who have been sidelined with injuries. But freshman setter Jackie Schardt is healthy and ready to play after missing three matches because of a concussion. Senior setter Katie Virtue had the cast removed from her broken right hand but has not been cleared to play.
At least three more players will need some more time in the infirmary. Freshman hitter Maria Pongonis has a stress fracture in her left foot, freshman hitter Katherine Grant is suffering from a dislocated elbow, and freshman hitter Anna Andersson has a sprained knee.
Despite setbacks, the team is still competitive. The Buckeyes took Michigan State to five games before falling 3-2 last Friday.
"The healthy players are doing their part," said sophomore hitter Stacey Gordon.
Gordon is doing more than her part — she was named Big Ten Player of the Week.
"She has done an amazing job," Stone said.
Gordon won the award even though the team lost both its matches last weekend. She posted a career-high 36 kills against MSU and leads the Big Ten with an average of 6.1 kills per game.
"I don't worry about that stuff," Gordon said. "I just have to play solid for my team."
Despite the individual award and the team's effort over the weekend, the team has dug itself into a hole by not having any conference wins.
"We are going to have to win 10 or 12 of our last 16 matches to win the Big Ten and make the NCAA," Stone said. "It's too early to pull the plug on the season."
OSU hopes to get the first of those wins this weekend when it plays its first conference matches on its floor. This weekend, the team has two pivotal Big Ten matches, and the Buckeyes are looking forward to playing at home.
"We are finally getting back to Columbus and a home crowd," said junior libero Heather Whalen. A libero plays behind the front line.
Wisconsin also seems to favor OSU home games — they have won the last five times they have played in St. John Arena. The Badgers are 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. They also return 10 letter winners from the team that won the Big Ten championship last season.
"They are taller than we are and they have experienced kids on the floor," Stone said.
The Badgers are the best in the conference in assists per game with 16 and kills per game with 17.82.
"Wisconsin has a good, complex offense," Gordon said.
OSU then faces a surprising Northwestern team the following evening. The Wildcats are 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten. The team's only conference loss was to No. 6 Minnesota.
Northwestern has a tremendous amount of on-court experience with 12 letter winners back from last year's squad.
"They are playing at a higher level this year than in previous years," Stone said.
The Wildcats have struggled in Columbus, winning only twice in 17 meetings, with both of those victories by forfeit.
The Buckeyes have put in a full week of practice, paying attention to different aspects of their game.
"We have been working on defense and focusing on us," Whalen said. "We have a good chance of winning."
The team is working on trying to get more players into the offense besides Gordon.
"We have been focusing on our half of the floor and to get more people involved," Stone said.
Gordon knows this is an important weekend and knows the team is capable of winning.
"We have the team to win, we just have to get over that hump," she said. "Now we have a little home court advantage."
OSU opens the weekend with Wisconsin tomorrow at 7 p.m. and plays Northwestern at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches will be held in St. John Arena.
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