The Wisconsin volleyball team will compete within its home confines of the Field House for the first time since Sept. 2 this weekend, putting its 2-0 conference record on the line against Michigan State (10-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) Friday and No. 24 Michigan (13-2, 0-2) Saturday.
The No. 14 Badgers opened up their Big Ten season by winning two matches on the road and will try to ride the momentum of their four-match winning streak into the weekend.
""I was pleased with our first weekend on the road in the Big Ten, going down to Illinois and at Northwestern, winning in three [games] both places,"" Waite said at a Monday press conference. ""We're rolling and we're thrilled to be back home because we've been on the road for three weeks now.""
Though Michigan is nationally ranked, the Badgers may face their fiercest competition Friday when they take on the Spartans, who convincingly defeated Indiana (10-4, 1-1) after losing their conference opener to No. 11 Purdue (12-1, 2-0).
""Michigan State on Friday is a team who has not been in the top 25 this year, but I think they should be actually,"" Waite said. ""They're going to be really, really tough.""
Spartan juniors Katie Johnson, Ashley Schatzle and Jessica Hohl lead Michigan State's attack, averaging 5.08, 4.44 and 3.20 kills per game respectively. Hohl also leads the team in attack percentage and blocks. Senior Allison Ianni sets the offense up, averaging 13.77 assists per game, while senior Nicole Colaluca leads the defense with 5.15 digs per game.
The Spartans lost both meetings with the Badgers last season but are already only two wins shy of last season's victory total of 12.
Michigan also began its conference season against Purdue and Indiana and, despite amassing a 13-0 preseason record, lost both matches. The Wolverines played both teams close, losing in especially heartbreaking fashion to Purdue after blowing a 9-5 lead in the fifth game.
""Michigan was [ranked] 19th nationally last week, but they took a loss to Indiana at home over the weekend, which really surprised us,"" Waite said. ""So I'm sure they're going to be ready to go for this weekend.""
Michigan boasts three players who average more than one block per game—senior Megan Bowman (1.39), sophomore Beth Karpiak (1.06) and senior Erin Penn (1.04). Junior Katie Bruzdzinski leads the team with 4.69 kills and a .289 attack percentage.
Though the Wolverines are 2-22 all time in Madison including a loss at the Field House last year, they have also made great strides since the 2005 season, already equaling last season's win total.
For the Badgers, freshman outside hitter Brittney Dolgner will try to continue her emergence as one of the team's young leaders. Dolgner leads the team in service aces, ranks second in kills per game and third in digs. She shined brightest Saturday against Northwestern when she set career highs in kills (22) and attack percentage (.429).
""She's just an experienced player that plays more like a junior or senior than she does a freshman,"" Waite said. ""She's the most accomplished hitter out of the back row we've had in four or five years probably.""
As it has been for 15 years, Friday's conference home opener will be deemed Steve Lowe Night, in honor of the coach who passed away shortly after leading the team to its first ever Big Ten title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 1990.
