Playing five game matches is not something the No. 7 UW volleyball team (8-2 Big Ten, 16-3 overall) has been accustomed to doing this season. Matches like those can leave one overjoyed or heartbroken, and the Badgers experienced both this weekend. Friday's match brought the thrill of victory as Wisconsin defeated Michigan State (2-7, 9-10), whereas Saturday is produced the agony of defeat as the Badgers lost to Michigan (4-6, 10-9). Although Big Ten road games are always tough, the absence of senior Aubrey Meierotto due to illness undoubtedly heightened in the team's struggles.
'It was a tough loss,' head coach Pete Waite said. 'Michigan is a good team and we really missed Aubrey Meierotto out on the court.'
Early match errors and adjustments marred Friday's battle with the Spartans, but the Badgers showed their experience and were able to pull out the win, 26-30, 30-21, 25-30, 30-27, 15-9. The team was outkilled and outdug, but the key difference lay in the blocks, as it has the majority of the year. Wisconsin was able to outblock MSU 17-7, with five of them coming in the crucial game five, in which UW held the Spartans to a .250 hitting percentage. Senior co-captain Sheila Shaw led the defensive charge with nine blocks while also leading the offense with 15 kills and two service aces. Sophomore middle blocke Katie Johnson had a match-high 24 kills for the Spartans.
'Our team withstood everything Michigan State threw at them and got stronger as the match went on,' Waite said.
An optimist would say that after beating Michigan 17 straight times, the Badgers would have no problem with the Wolverines. A pessimist would say Michigan was due, and Saturday proved the pessimist right, as Wisconsin fell 24-30, 30-18, 28-30, 30-25, 14-16.
Junior Maria Carlini led the Wisconsin offense with 29 kills and a .532 hitting percentage, fifth and fourth best all-time, respectively, for a UW five game match. Four Badgers had 10 or more digs, with sophomore Jocelyn Wack leading the team with 18. Both Carlini (kills and digs) and sophomore Taylor Reineke (kills and blocks) had double-doubles.
'In a five-game match, we won in every category except one and that was the 'W,'' Waite said.
Wisconsin continues their tough road stretch next week with matches against No. 3 Penn State and No. 20 Ohio State.
'''www.uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
