Wildcats, Badgers await Hoosiers in conference's opening weekend

Wisconsin sits near the top of the Big Ten heading into the opening weekend of the volleyball season. Northwestern idles in the league cellar. Indiana hovers between both, not expected to contend for the conference crown, but not expected to join the Wildcats in the basement. \nIndiana has gotten used to being picked to finish in the middle of the Big Ten pack. Coach Katie Weismiller said they figure they're better than No. 8 in the Big Ten, and there's no time like right now to prove it.\n"If we take care of both Wisconsin and Northwestern, we can make a statement," senior outside hitter Amanda Welter said. "We're going to be fired up."\nIt will likely take a top performance from the Hoosiers (9-1) to topple both the Badgers and Wildcats. Northwestern (3-7), which began the season with seven consecutive losses, has reeled off three consecutive wins, and will provide the first test for IU Friday night. Northwestern won only two Big Ten matches a year ago, neither coming against IU. \n"We've had the upper hand the last few years against Northwestern," Weismiller said. "They're a young team."\nFreshman middle blocker Erika Lange should provide the main offensive threat for the Wildcats, and head coach Keylor Chan is in his first season in Evanston. The Wildcats are hitting a league-worst 0.183, but Lange has racked up 3.42 kills per game to go along with 1.32 blocks per outing. \nWeismiller will try to slow down the Northwestern offense and force ball control, much like she will attempt to do against the favored Badgers (10-1), currently ranked No.14 in the nation. \nIf Lange doesn't muddle IU's hopes of a weekend sweep, another middle blocker will try to. Badger Sherisa Livingston ranks fourth in the conference in hitting percentage, at 0.428, and averages 4.35 kills per contest, good for fifth in the league. Livingston also chips in with 1.18 blocks a game.\nIU senior middle blocker Laura Dewitz will have the pleasure of dealing with both Lange and Livingston. \n"It's going to be a test about our status in the Big Ten," Dewitz said. "We're excited." \nWeismiller does admit the powerful Badger attack will force the Hoosiers to make some minor defensive adjustments, but she said she is confident her squad won't be shaken. Weismiller said she's still toying with a lineup that has been bitten by nagging injuries, such as Welter's consistently sore back. But the coach remains focused on her squad rather than the counterpart.\n"They're ranked 14th, but that doesn't scare us," Weismiller said. "We can upset any team. They'll get their kills, but if we can control the ball, we'll be in pretty good shape. We might surprise a few teams this year."\nFriday will mark the first conference game for the group of seven IU freshmen, two of whom have seen major playing time. But Weismiller and Welter agree they'd rather play on the Badgers' and Wildcats' home turf early in the season. Still, IU hasn't beaten Wisconsin since 1995, when they swept the season series. \nThe Badgers have gotten the better of Weismiller since her arrival in Bloomington in 1993, winning 11 of the 14 matches, including six of seven at the UW Fieldhouse.\nBut she expects her group to be poised for an upset. IU has passed early-season road tests at the Pittsburgh Invitational and at Indiana State. \n"They can tune out the crowd," Weismiller said. "They'll go in with their eyes wide open. I think we have the personnel and the focus. I'd like to get out there and see what we can do"