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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.