Survival was the story of the Wisconsin volleyball game Friday night, as the Badgers (14-2 Big Ten, 22-3 overall) escaped with a 3-2 victory over Michigan (7-8, 19-8) in the Field House by a score of 24-30, 30-27, 27-30, 30-22, 16-14.
The Wolverines gave Wisconsin a headache with strong play from outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski, who totaled a game-high 26 kills. Michigan’s aggressive service also flustered Wisconsin’s offense.
“They were serving some great balls,” head coach Pete Waite said. “Some were short and really short … they were putting them at the two, three-foot line, some of those balls. So that is really hard to keep your offense going and Jackie [Simpson] had to go to her knees to set some of those balls. Give them credit for the game plan and executing it.”
The Wolverines’ scrappy defense also kept the Wisconsin front line frustrated all night, as the Wolverines made solid touches on nearly every Badger attack.
“It was frustrating when they touch a really hard-driven ball that you just hit,” senior middle hitter Taylor Reineke said. “But we just had to keep pushing through; you can’t stop and let that get you down. I think we did a good job of just battling through it.”
Sophomore outside hitter Brittney Dolgner led the Badgers with 24 kills on the night. The tandem of Reineke and junior Audra Jeffers was also solid, adding 10 and 15 kills, respectively. Simpson tossed 63 assists to lead all players.
The Wolverines matched the Badgers in almost every statistical category. Defensively, both teams recorded 12 blocks, with Michigan out-digging the home team 73-67. Senior libero Jocelyn Wack saved 22 on the night, with senior Amanda Berkley adding a career-high 17.
“In the end, they only out-dug us by six, but I think they were really beating us early and we really picked it up,” Waite said. “I think Berkley dug some on the right side really well and Jo picked it up in the back.”
The victory over Michigan secures at least a second-place Big Ten finish for Wisconsin. Penn State owns the inside track to its fifth straight conference championship and can secure it with a victory over Wisconsin this upcoming Friday in University Park, Penn.
