Neither an injured wrist nor a late Blue Devil run could prevent the Wisconsin Badgers (6-2) from sweeping the two-game weekend series last weekend against the North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-5) and the Duke Blue Devils (4-5) at the Inntowner Invitational in Madison.
Badger junior outside hitter Jill Odenthal led the team in kills for the weekend with 28 in the two matches. Junior outside hitter Marian Weidner and sophomore middle blocker Sheila Shaw added 23 and 22, respectively. Senior Lisa Zukowski, starting at libero last weekend, led the team with 25 digs.
On Friday night, the Badgers faced off against NC State. Wisconsin had little trouble in dispatching the Wolfpack, as they swept the match 30-17, 30-25 and 30-19. NC State never had a lead bigger than two points all match.
Sophomore outside hitter Aubrey Meierotto had a team-high 11 kills and a career-high four blocks in the game. Zukowski had seven digs in her first action at libero all year to go along with three service aces.
\We went with a little different lineup tonight just to look at some things as possibilities for the Big Ten season,"" Badgers Head Coach Pete Waite said after Friday's game, ""And I thought it went well for the first time.""
""I feel a lot stronger at libero this year than even last year,"" Zukowski said. ""My ball control is so much better, more confident.""
Senior setter Morgan Shields played the entire match with a fractured wrist which was injured in a non-sports-related activity. Nevertheless, Shields managed 33 assists, a block and a service ace while serving left-handed instead of right-handed.
""I actually practice [serving left-handed],"" Shields said about the change in serving style.
Saturday's game against Duke proved to be a much harder test, however, the Badgers would again prevail 30-23, 30-25, 25-30 and 30-24. Wisconsin seemed to have the match in hand, leading 16-8 in the third game, but a flurry of attack and service errors by the Badgers allowed Duke to come back and win the game. The fourth game stayed close until the Badgers broke apart a 20-20 tie clinch the match.
""We shouldn't lose those games, we should keep that lead and maintain it,"" Waite said. ""That's something the team's going to have to work harder on.""
Wisconsin got two big-time games from Weidner and freshman middle blocker Amy Bladow. Weidner, who had shoulder surgery over the summer on her attacking arm, set a career high in kills with 20 on Saturday, which beat her previous best of five.
""If I'm taking that many attempts that means that I'm hitting well and the team's doing well,"" Weidner said.
Bladow, in perhaps her best game as a Badger, had career highs in kills with 11, service aces with three and blocks with three.
""[Bladow's] learning quickly, she's working hard to be better. We know she's got it in her,"" Waite said. ""We need another person stepping up for us offensively to be a better balanced team.""
Shields, Odenthal and Shaw were named to the all-invitational team for the Badgers. Shaw, the only Badger to have double-digits in kills in both matches, was also named the invitational's most valuable player. These three helped make the weekend a success for Bucky's crew.
""We wanted the two wins, we wanted to protect home court, we wanted to try some new things,"" Waite said. ""You saw Marian and Bladow step up ... and [Zukowski] take a different role. It was pretty much what we wanted.\
