After four weeks of conference play, the Big Ten volleyball picture is murkier than ever. Four teams — Penn State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota — sit atop the standings with 6-2 records. Four also rank among the top 25 in the latest USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. Penn State tops the list at No. 15, with Michigan State (No. 22), Wisconsin (No. 23) and Minnesota (No. 25) also included.

After weekend wins over Purdue and Indiana, the Badgers have a chance to separate themselves from the pack Friday when they square off with the Nittany Lions.

“You always know it’s going to be a battle, but you never know who is going to be at the top,” head coach Pete Waite said. “We and Penn State were picked to be in the top three or four, so we knew it would be tough. This early in the season we had no idea that everyone would be beating up people and losing to other people you just don’t suspect. Illinois had a huge weekend with two wins, Minnesota went and beat up on Penn State on their home floor 3-0, and nobody expected that. It’s just a strange year where there are a lot of very even teams.”

A preseason favorite to win the conference, Minnesota struggled out of the gates in 2003, dropping four matches to begin the season, then early conference matches to the two teams Wisconsin defeated this past weekend, Indiana and Purdue. Since losing to the Boilermakers, the Gophers have caught fire, winning their last six matches, including a 3-0 blanking of the Nittany Lions in Penn State.

“Minnesota is coming on strong. They had a slow start and surprised everybody when they lost at Purdue and Indiana to start the Big Ten season,” Waite said. “They’re tough and they’re the most physical team on the schedule, so they are going to be the ones to catch, I think, especially after their win at Penn State. It shows how strong they are, but at the same time Ohio State, who is down in the bottom half of the conference, took them to five. It just shows that anyone can do it on any particular day.”

After Friday night’s showdown with Penn State, Wisconsin will take on Ohio State Saturday night.

Meierotto comes up big

The Badgers got a huge offensive boost from outside hitter Aubrey Meierotto Saturday, as she racked up 25 kills against Indiana. This season the redshirt sophomore ranks second on the team in kills (243), kills per game (3.57) and hitting percentage (.307).

“She’s a great hitter, just a real terminator,” Waite said. “Obviously, she’s taken the last two years just to get healthy with her knees, but the strength coaches and our athletic trainers have done an awesome job getting her ready to go, so she’s training every day with us, where two years ago she couldn’t go two days in a row with us.”

Meierotto has been slowed throughout her UW career by knee tendonitis, but has fought through the pain to enjoy a breakout season in 2003.

“She’s just amazing and we’re learning what she needs as far as sets,” Waite said. “When you do give her the best set, she’s almost unstoppable.”

Bench gets deeper

Coach Waite has expanded his rotation in recent weeks, with junior Marian Weidner and freshman Maria Carlini reaping the benefits of increased playing time.

“Our subs are a great job,” Waite said. “We’ve got some people coming off the bench — Marian Weidner is doing a great job. We’re using her and also Maria Carlini, who is coming in sometimes and spelling Odenthal. So, I think we are seeing that the depth of our bench is getting stronger.”

Weidner, who had been playing backrow for Meierotto early in the year, is giving Wisconsin 1.40 kills and 1.62 digs per game off the bench. Carlini began the season starting at middle blocker, but has been coming off the bench providing depth across the front line. Against the Hoosiers, she tallied six kills and nine digs, tying a career high.

“Obviously Maria is just a freshman, but she is stepping in and putting up a bigger block for us and doing some great things offensively,” Waite said. “We feel better about that. I think that is where we are settling in to things in the last two weeks. We are seeing who will step up when we need them, because not everybody can be on every night.”

Odenthal back in action

Junior Jill Odenthal, who was slowed by a sore arch in Wisconsin’s last two home matches against Iowa and Minnesota, has been fitted for orthodics and is feeling better, Waite said. Odenthal leads the Badgers with 3.71 kills per game.