On a weekend that may have proved pivotal to the No. 8 UW volleyball team's quest for a Big Ten title, the Badgers (4-0 Big Ten, 12-1 overall) somehow survived their first conference road trip unscathed. Wisconsin squeaked by upset-minded No. 21 Purdue (1-3 Big Ten, 12-3 overall) Friday and then took care of business in dominating fashion against Illinois (1-3 Big Ten, 12-3 overall) on Saturday. With a challenge-filled weekend coming up that includes No. 4 Penn State and Ohio State, UW can draw a lot of momentum from these two matches.
\Now we go home and prepare for some tough games against some really tough teams,"" head coach Pete Waite said. ""Ohio State's always good.""
The win against Purdue might well have been their most impressive of the year, although the stat sheets would certainly not portray it .
Beaten in every category by the Boilermakers, the Badgers overcame the deficits to get the victory, 30-27, 31-29, 28-30, 14-30, 15-9. Playing from behind for the majority of every game (besides the fifth), Wisconsin just kept coming back, showing the perseverance that has pervaded their eight match winning streak. Even after giving up their two game lead and getting destroyed in game four, they were able to come out strong in game five to take home the win.
""Our kids just really came out of the blocks fast in the fifth,"" Wiate said. ""They got a little bit of a cushion and just never let up.""
Leading an all-around fantastic team effort was senior outside hitter Aubrey Meierotto, who has been on a tear lately, contributing 19 kills. Redshirt freshman Audra Jeffers added 15 of her own, while junior Maria Carlini had 11. Carlini was also active on the defensive end, totaling 14 digs, supplementing sophomore defensive stalwart Jocelyn Wack's 22 digs.
Senior Sheila Shaw and sophomore Taylor Reineke blocked five balls each, and sophomore setter Jackie Simpson held the offense together with 49 assists.
Not since 2001 have the Badgers beaten the Illini in Champaign, but Wisconsin had no such problems on Saturday. Handily winning 30-15, 30-22, 30-21, they came out inspired and did not stop until the match's end. UW added yet another element to their offense, firing off 11 service aces. Wack and Carlini both had three, while Shaw upped her weekend total to six with three of her own. The defense was the dominant entity, however, holding the Illini to a .027 hitting percentage. Rachel VanMeter was held to 10 kills, well below her season average. Shaw and Carlini were the offensive threats, both hitting above .400 with 11 kills.
Next weekend will bring an end to the tie atop the Big Ten standings, as Ohio State and Penn State visit the Field House.
-uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
