ence play. We have some good teams on that part of the schedule and we really have to take care of business; there's not much leeway. "I feel like we have the talent to be right there with everybody (in the Big Ten). "But it's a matter of consistency.'' In concert with her leadership, Mitchell has
been a model of consistency for the Badgers. She also been a role model for all of her team- mates, Waite pointed out. "Athletically,'' he went on, "she keeps rais- ing the bar as far as where she's going with the height of her jump and the power of her swing; things like that — just the energy and intensity that she brings.'' After Monday's practice, Mitchell was asked
about being selected to the 2012 preseason All- Big Ten team. She sounded very surprised to hear the news, and there was a reason for that. Mitchell hadn't actually been named to the
team. It was an inadvertent mistake on the part of the questioner who had assumed that she was on it. She wasn't upset, though, not on the sur- face.
"When it comes to those things, Big Ten hon-
ors, they're great to have but I'm more con- cerned with team results,'' said Mitchell, a two- time honorable mention all-conference middle blocker. "There are great players in this conference,
and I don't know how they decide those things. But that's just more motivation for me to prove that I can be an All-Big Ten selection.'' What would Mitchell say to her younger team- mates to motivate them? "I just want them to know that you're going to
go through tough times, not every season has been like I wanted it to be,'' she said. "But there's always an opportunity for you to get better. "I've been here three years and not made it to
the tournament. But I've never lost faith. And I know that I won't leave the University of Wis- consin without making it to the NCAA tourna- ment.'' That's really all you need to know about Mitchell.
40 » VARSITY AUGUST 23, 2012
