INSIDE SOFTBALL
BY ANNA POULTER-HENDRICKSON
@BadgerSoftball
SCHEDULE
This Week
Fri.
at Charlotte
Fri.
Presbyterian
Sat.
Notre Dame
Sat.
Presbyterian
Sun.
Notre Dame
Noon
2 p.m.
9 a.m.
3 p.m.
9 a.m.
Coming Up
Feb. 22-24Orlando, Fla.
TBA
Mar. 1
#21 Stanford
3:30 p.m.
Mar. 1
at Cal Fullerton
8 p.m.
Mar. 2
#3 California
1:15 p.m.
Mar. 2
CSU Bakersfield
8 p.m.
Wisconsin ready for
challenging schedule
UW's schedule loaded with top teams
W
ith their eyes on making the NCAA tournament in May, the Badgers
have loaded their schedule
with top talent in 2013 and
are not wasting any time getting to work.
Wisconsin will open the
season at the UNC Tournament where it will face Notre
Dame ― a 40-game win60 » VARSITY
FEB R UA RY 7, 2013
ner and regional qualifier in
2012 ― twice.
"Opening weekend should
be a big challenge for us,"
said head coach Yvette
Healy. "After two really successful seasons, we know the
direction we have to go this
year has more to do with
getting signature wins, especially early in the season
when we face ranked opponents."
In all, UW is set to face six teams
ranked or receiving votes in the USA
Today/NFCA Division I Top-25 Preseason Poll, released Jan. 22, with
the potential to face more at the Diamond 9 Tournament and in the Big
Ten tournament.
"As we try to work to get over the
hump and make it to the NCAA tournament this year, the first couple
weekends will be challenging, but will
give us a tremendous amount of opportunity to face ranked opponents
on a weekly basis and see where we
match up," continued Healy.
Wisconsin is fresh off one of its
most successful seasons in 2012,
tying a school record with 34 wins
and setting a new mark with just 19
losses. But, after finishing in a tie for
sixth place in the Big Ten, the Badgers did not receive one of the elusive bids to the NCAA regional tournament. This year, a tough schedule
against ranked opponents ― highlighted with signature wins ― will
help Wisconsin build a resume worthy of a bid.
