[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]With a loss at then-No. 17 Minnesota and a win over last place Iowa, the Wisconsin volleyball team dropped three spots in the rankings to No. 14 and remained in a tie for third place in the Big Ten.

The Badgers now return home to start the second half of Big Ten Play against two tough teams in No. 2 Penn State and No. 24 Ohio State.

"It's really an eagerness to prove that we are a better team than when we played there," head coach Pete Waite said of the rematch with Penn State. "Obviously the night before in that match-up we had lost Maria [Carlini], so we didn't have her in the lineup so this time she is healthier.

"This is the No. 2 team in the country and they are undefeated. They got that record for a reason. They have been physically overpowering a lot of teams and they are hitting balls from different angles than people are use to. It is really a challenge for us to step up and we are really happy to have them on our home court now."

Big Ten title still the goal

Despite being three games behind conference leader Penn State, Wisconsin is still aiming for the Big Ten title, but if the Badgers are going to make a move toward the top, they are going to have to take care of business this weekend first.

"It's still that shot. You still look at this next match and try and take care of that," Waite said at his Monday press conference. "If we get this win that does mean we still have a shot at that Big Ten title, but some other people have to do some work against Penn State too, and nobody's proven they've been able to do that in the first half of Big Ten play."

Wisconsin will not only need help from other conference members if they are going to catch Penn State, but they also need Minnesota to fall back as well.

At 9-1 in conference play, Minnesota stands alone in second place. However, the Badgers are looking to get a hot start to the second half of Big Ten play and catch both Minnesota and Penn State.

"Anybody can catch fire at anytime," Waite said. "It has been a little bit more of a health issue for us for a little while. If we can get strong and kick it into gear, it could go really well for us in the home stretch."

Home Sweet Home

The Badgers have been two different teams this year playing at home and on the road. After losing their first match of the year to then-No. 8 Texas in the AVCA College Volleyball Showcase, the Badgers have won eight matches in a row at home, with the last seven matches being three-game sweeps.

"I think [home-court advantage] has really gotten big in the teams that are getting good crowds and we are definitely one of them," Waite said. "We are raising up another 10, 15 percent of the level we have been playing at least. The focus, the jump, the energy, everything and if there is ever a let down the crowd gets the team back up and they are ready to go again."

On the road this year, Wisconsin is 7-4, but only 3-3 in Big Ten matches. One of the reasons for the Badger's road struggles is the intensity is not the same as it is at home.

"I've noticed an amazing difference for our team home and away this year," Waite said. "That is something that we have to fix because we are going to have to hit the road in the NCAA tournament, but here at home, we have really been enjoying that extra energy."

Dolgner still going strong

Through the Badgers' first 20 matches, freshman outside hitter Brittany Dolgner has made quite an impact on the court. She leads the team with 4.05 kills per game and is second on the team behind libero Jocelyn Wack in digs with 2.43 digs per game. Dolgner has also been able to make adjustments as the season has gone on.

"She has hit a few small walls along the way just as far as getting flustered in a few matches," Waite said. "There is no doubt some people have been going after her in serve receive and she has had to get stronger in her defense and her passing.

One thing that has improved as of late is Dolgner's blocking. She has had five blocks in two of the Badgers' last four games.

"At the net in attacking, she is getting stronger as a blocker," Waite said. "Attacking front row and back row she is putting up bigger numbers than anybody else on our team right now, so I got to say she is handling it pretty well."