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Wisconsin survives, wins another 5 game match

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Also by Ben Solochek:

Home 'Field' advantage (November 30, 2007)
Salow matures, sees role expand for Wisconsin (November 15, 2007)
Wisconsin survives, wins another 5 game match (November 12, 2007)
UW to host IU, UM (November 7, 2007)
Wisconsin splits weekend set (November 5, 2007)

by Ben Solochek

Monday, November 12, 2007

The Wisconsin volleyball team survived another five-game scare Friday, but was still able to pull out a victory.

The 11th-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team (22-3, 14-2 Big Ten) managed to get the win in five games (24-30, 30-27, 27-30, 30-22, 16-14) over Michigan (19-8, 7-8), the second time in the last two weeks the Badgers have gone to five games. Last weekend, Wisconsin was able to pull out a close win against Northwestern at the Field House in five.

"This team must like dramatic finishes, because they're turning into the cardiac kids here," Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite said. "For me, it's gray hair, ulcer and heart attack city, but you know, they did a great job."

The Badgers were led by outside hitter Brittney Dolgner, who finished with 24 kills despite only having two kills and two attempts in the first game.

Afterward, both Waite and setter Jackie Simpson made a more concerted effort to get Dolgner the ball.

"It just happens sometimes," Waite said. "There are situations where passing doesn't put her in position to set her all the time. We did notice that stat."

Wisconsin also received a lot of help off the bench. Freshman setter Nikki Kilngsporn came in the third game to give Simpson a rest and registered eight assists and two kills.

"Nikki came in. She did a great job," Simpson said. "When you come out of the game, you can really see the court from a different angle and you can see what's going on — things that you don't normally get to see while you're playing because you're looking up at the ball. So, it definitely helps to come out and refocus."

For Michigan, senior outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski — ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 4.52 assists per game — led the team with 26 kills, including seven in the third game. Outside hitter Veronica Rood also contributed 18 kills and one block.

After going down 11-6 to start the first game, the Wolverines went on an 8-3 run and eventually won 30-24. The Badgers were able to bounce back in the second game, winning 30-26 while holding the Wolverines to a .200 hitting percentage and outblocking them 4-1.

Michigan came out of the locker room for the third game strong, and won 30-27. In doing so, the Wolverines held the Badgers to a .222 hitting percentage and outblocked them 2-1.

The fourth game was marked by good defense as both teams hit under .300. However, the Badgers were able to win 30-22 with the help of Caity DuPont's four kills off the bench.

"It's really frustrating when they touch a hard hit ball," senior co-captain Taylor Reineke said. "We had to keep pushing through. You can't stop. You know, you can't let that get you down. I think we did a good job of just keep battling through it."

Though they won the deciding game 16-14, the Badgers were almost the victims of questionable officiating again in the fifth game. With Wisconsin down 3-5, the referee missed what appeared to be a net violation, which angered Waite and caused a storm of boos from the crowd.

"We thought they pretty much put an elbow through the net on one of our swings," Waite said. "We saw it. I think a lot of people saw it."

As evidenced by the contributions off the bench, Waite's team is improving and getting deeper. He now has the ability to rest some of his starters and know the reserves are going to have the same production. That depth prepares his team for different situations down the road.

"Obviously, we are finding ways to win," Waite said. "We have been telling people teams in the Big Ten are good teams and they are getting better all the time. So, the second half of the Big Ten schedule is going to be even tougher than the first because we have played each other and they know tendencies."

Friday's victory guaranteed the Badgers at least a second place finish in conference play. They trail division-leading Penn State by two games. The two teams will square off Friday in College Park, Pa.

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Anonymous (November 12, 2007 @ 10:46am):

FYI- The Pennsylvania State University's University Park (or, main) campus is located in State College, PA. The University of Maryland is located in College Park, MD.

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