At the end of any season, teams that are at the bottom try to claw their way out, teams in the middle make a mad dash for the top, and the best teams just try to stave off all challengers. This weekend, the No. 10 UW volleyball team (10-4 Big Ten, 18-5 overall) was able to stave off a clawing Illinois (4-10, 13-12) team but were not able to defeat a hard-charging Purdue (10-4, 21-4) squad.
\Every night it's a challenge,"" redshirt freshman Audra Jeffers said. ""You know that all the teams are great, [that] it's going to be a fight and a battle every night.""
While nobody would have feared Illinois a month ago, the Illini have become dangerous as they have nothing to lose and one of the premiere players in the nation that can take over a match. Illinois did take Wisconsin to the brink on Friday night, but UW was able to get the win in five games, 30-22, 23-30, 30-24, 26-30, 15-10.
""I think Illinois is a much improved team from the last time we saw them,"" head coach Pete Waite said. ""That's a team that a month ago was in really tough shape and they came back here and really battled.""
Leading the Badger offense was senior Aubrey Meierotto and Jeffers, with 19 and 15 kills respectively. Sophomore Taylor Reineke led the team with 10 blocks, but the defensive star was sophomore Jocelyn Wack. Wack was flying around the court all game, and after the dust had settled, she had amassed 33 digs, two off her career high. For Illinois, the main reason they remained in the match was the play of senior Rachel VanMeter, who had 27 kills on an incredible 70 attempts.
""Our team had to step up tonight when they were challenged, a lot of people contributed,"" Waite said. ""I think at time Jo Wack kept us in the match with some great defensive plays.""
""We have to learn to fight through those games to be one of the best teams in the country,"" Meierotto said. ""It's a good test for us.""
The match against No. 17 Purdue on Saturday, however, would not bring such happy tidings. Having to battle for every single point, the Badger offense just could not overcome the Boilermakers' strong defense, losing 30-23, 26-30, 30-28, 30-23.
Although Wisconsin had four players with more than 10 kills, only two players had a hitting percentage above .200. Reineke had 12 kills and eight blocks, while Jeffers had the team high with 15 kills. Wack continued her great weekend with 21 digs, but it was not enough. Purdue had three players with more than 15 kills, while on the defensive end Kelli Miller and Anne Mastandrea combined for 49 digs.
""Going into this match we knew it'd be tough because they have strong, physical blockers; their defense is really good,"" Reineke said.
""I tried to shade our defense to the right spots, but sometimes they just make a good shot,"" Wack said.
Wisconsin will see Iowa and Minnesota on the road next weekend.
