The Wisconsin volleyball team finished its season this weekend with two losses, bringing the Badgers' final record to a disappointing 5-15 in the Big Ten and 16-15 overall. Wisconsin lost in three matches to both Purdue (12-8 Big Ten, 21-10 overall) Friday evening and Indiana (9-11 Big Ten, 21-11 overall) Saturday.
The Badgers failed to keep up with the Boilermakers' serving, making too many mistakes in the passing game.
""Purdue was serving tough tonight and kept our passers on their heels,"" head coach Pete Waite said. ""I don't think we got the ball to junior setter Janelle Gabrielsen comfortably and she had to put the ball to the outside hitters a lot, and they had double blocks a lot of the time.""
Senior outside hitter Allison Wack led the Badgers with 11 kills against Purdue, while sophomore middle blocker Mary Ording wasn't far behind with nine. Junior Ashley Wiedmeyer led the Badgers with a career-high three aces.
Wisconsin opened the first set against Purdue with an 11-2 run. Wiedmeyer led the way, contributing two service aces. Purdue was able to stop the run though, and finished with two kills to take the set 25-22. The second set was also close, with the Badgers trailing by just three, at 19-16. Junior middle blocker Elle Ohlander scored a kill to get the Badgers within one point, but yet again, Wisconsin could not close out the set and fell to the Boilermakers 25-20.
The Badgers led again in the third set, after a kill from sophomore middle blocker Alexis Mitchell put them ahead 13-10. But Purdue was able to tie the score at 13, and Wisconsin couldn't overcome the onslaught of Purdue blocks, as they were outblocked 7-4 in the match and ended up losing the third set 25-20.
Saturday night the Badgers were led by freshman middle blocker Dominique Thompson and Wack, who recorded nine kills and seven kills, respectively. Gabrielsen contributed 26 assists and 14 digs as well.
The first set was all Hoosiers, starting out 8-2 and holding the lead the entire set. Despite a 4-0 run from the Badgers, it wasn't enough in the 25-16 loss. However, the run in the first set gave Wisconsin a little momentum heading into the second set, beginning with a 3-0 run. The set remained close, with Wisconsin taking Indiana to a 15-15 tie. The Hoosiers made two late runs to close out the set, though, winning 25-20.
The third set was a lot closer, as Wisconsin looked to extend its season. The Badgers and Hoosiers were tied right through the end of the match, but two Wisconsin errors gave Indiana the set and match, 26-24.
After a season that began 11-0, the Badgers finished the 2010 campaign with disappointing results. However, the young Badgers will return 14 players next year however, and are gaining four freshmen.
