As the book closed on another season last December, the Wisconsin volleyball team regrettably had to say goodbye to two outstanding seniors, outside hitter Aubrey Meierotto and middle blocker Sheila Shaw. But when the new season dawned in August, three of the country's finest high-school standouts from last year stepped onto the court of the UW Field House with expectations of not just filling the void left by Meierotto and Shaw, but also taking the Badgers to the next level.
Outside hitter Caity DuPont, outside hitter Brittney Dolgner and setter Nikki Klingsporn are the newest members of the UW volleyball team and are being hailed as one of the best freshman classes to ever put on a Badger uniform. Not only did Volleyball Magazine recognize each of them with Fab 50 honors, but they also dubbed the trio as the fifth-best recruiting class in the nation this year.
""I'd have to rank this one up there with the current class of juniors as far as numbers,"" Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite said. ""They were bigger numbers and they're a very talented group too.""
DuPont, a native of Muskego, Wis., finished high school ranked No. 30 on PrepVolleyball.com's Senior Aces and was named one of 25 Underclassmen to Watch by Volleyball in 2005. She also led Muskego High School to the Division I state title last year. According to Waite, she has a powerful jump serve and does a great job of attacking the net. DuPont, however, seems to find the hardest transition from high school to college on the front line.
""The block's a lot bigger,"" DuPont said. ""Hitting around the block is definitely a lot harder because then the ball goes out.""
Dolgner, arguably the nation's best recruit this year, hails from Waupun, Wis. She was named 2005 PrepVolleyball.com Senior Player of the year, led Waupun High School to four straight state titles, earned three first-team all-state honors and is Wisconsin's all-time high school kill leader with 2,480. In just six games with Wisconsin this season, she is third on the team in kills and digs per game, has more service aces than any other Badger player and has performed well enough to crack the starting lineup. And despite being one of the new kids on the block, Dolgner feels that the team has helped her and the other freshmen feel right at home.
""The team chemistry is coming along great,"" Dolgner said. ""At first we all separated because we didn't know how to play with each other, but just being together, like during meals and just talking, it's come a long way.""
Perhaps the most intriguing prospect from this year's class is Klingsporn, the Oakdale, Minn. product who earned the title of 2005-'06 Miss Volleyball Minnesota last year. Klingsporn is the third setter listed on the Badgers' roster behind starting junior setter Jackie Simpson and senior team captain Katie Lorenzen. While having two upperclassmen to learn from will undoubtedly help her to learn the system better, it also raises the question of whether or not she will want to redshirt this season, considering her playing time would likely be minimal.
In addition to numerous local awards and a No. 51 ranking on the Senior Aces list for her outstanding abilities in volleyball, Klingsporn also made headlines on the basketball court, earning McDonald's High School All-American honors and three-time all-conference selections. But she knows that at the college level she was meant to be serving and setting rather than dribbling and shooting—and she was meant to play for the Badgers.
""I just kind of felt that volleyball was more in my blood,"" Klingsporn said. ""I still really like basketball, and I'm going to miss it. I chose Wisconsin because everything about it was just what I was looking for. The atmosphere is amazing, the team, the coaching staff ... everything about it was perfect.""
Overall, Waite seems pleased with the talent and effort the freshmen bring to his team.
""They're definitely a talented group,"" Waite said. ""They each just bring different things, and that's what's great about them.""
