The Badgers won the conference last year and finished second at the NCAA Championships. They lost the title match to a Nebraska team that went undefeated. After last year's experience, they have not only an understanding of what it takes to get to that level, but a burning desire to get back.

Ohio State and Penn State occupy the second tier in the Big Ten hierarchy, but both teams have been enigmas. The No. 10 Buckeyes have relied on an all or nothing at all approach to serving and were paced early by freshman Stacey Gordon. The No. 13 Lions were the pre-season favorites to win the conference and started the season ranked third. Coach Russ Rose' squad has struggled with consistency and has played only two or three matches with any sort of cohesiveness.

The rest of the conference appears to be wide open, with some welcome surprises making it an interesting season.

Wisconsin (16-2, 10-0)

There isn't much that hasn't gone right for the Badgers this season. They have steamrolled through a formidable Big Ten schedule, with their only losses being to No. 2 USC and No. 18 Northern Iowa before the start of the conference slate. In middle blocker Sherisa Livingston, they have perhaps the best offensive player in the conference, but outstanding contributions from outside hitters Erin Byrd and Lisa Zukowski have given the Badgers balance and given opposing teams too much offensive firepower to handle.

The Badgers are confident in all parts of their game, but also have the hunger and knowledge of the danger in the conference to guard themselves from an upset.

"We're playing with a lot of confidence," coach Pete Waite said. "We have the feeling that we're going to win every night, but the players know that you have to be able to back it up. They know they can't look any further down the road than the game at hand."

The Badgers will face their biggest test of the conference season right off the bat in the second half when they play at Ohio State tomorrow night and at Penn State Saturday. They will have a dangerous road trip to Michigan State and Michigan, but get Illinois and Minnesota at home the second time around.

Ohio State (17-1, 9-1)

A number of key Buckeyes have been playing through injuries, and Ohio State coach Jim Stone knows there are a lot of aspects in which his team must improve. Despite that the Buckeyes rolled through everyone but Wisconsin in the first half, and are clearly considered the team with the best chance to give the Badgers a run for the Big Ten title.

Stone thinks his defense, that ranks last in the league in blocks, is suspect, but the offense, led by sickeningly talented freshman outside hitter Stacey Gordon and vastly improved senior Anne Botica has been dominant enough to hide the team's deficiencies. Adding to their offensive out put has been their jump serving capability evidenced by their Big Ten lead in first-half service aces. Stone is not overly confident in the jump serve, because it sometimes yields more errors than aces, but it has yet to hurt the Buckeyes in the win-loss column.

"I don't know if we're just living a charmed existence," Stone said. "I didn't expect us to be in this situation after the first half. Hopefully we can get everybody back healthy and keep hanging on in the second half without anyone else getting hurt."

The Buckeyes will also be tested early in the second half. After playing Wisconsin tomorrow night and Northwestern Saturday night, the Buckeyes will travel to Rec Hall on Halloween night to play Penn State.

Penn State (14-4, 7-3)

No player has done more for her team this year than the Lions' Katie Schumacher.

"She keeps them where they are," said Michigan State coach Chuck Erbe. "Without her, they're in a lot of trouble. They'd really be struggling."

Schumacher regularly gets three fourth's of her team's attacks, and gets the ball without fail in clutch situations. Coach Rose never imagined it that way, and he's desperately trying to relieve the load from the senior's shoulders. Penn State is without middle blocker Robyn Guokas, who led the conference with 1.77 blocks per game last season. The team has also struggled with injuries and shifting line-ups.

Rose, who says he's a coach without excuses, believes it boils down to one thing.

"I don't think we've had a lot of matches where every player played well," he said. "That's always been the problem with this group. They're not a very cohesive or focused bunch. I don't know how to get them to do all the intangibles it takes to win a championship."

Those intangibles, says Rose, are what makes Wisconsin the Porsche of well-oiled machines.

Illinois (13-5, 6-4)

The Fighting Illini have thus far shown that their 4-16 record last season was caused primarily by key injuries. Coach Don Hardin's team has returned to the form that garnered them a NCAA tournament bid two years ago. They've won five straight and seven of their last nine games, including victories over both Michigan and Michigan State.

The Fighting Illini are relying primarily on a very physical front line that currently leads the conference in blocks. That dominant front line includes 6-foot-5 freshman middle blocker Lisa Argabright, senior middle blocker Lydia Gard and senior outside hitter Shadia Haddad.

Michigan (10-7, 6-4)

The Wolverines have recently become one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. They are everybody's sleeper team, and their first-half victories over No. 21 Minnesota and No. 11 Penn State are obvious reasons why. Coach Mark Rosen has a lot of young talent on his roster, but the experience provided by senior setter Shannon Melka, who took over the job from freshman Lisa Gamalski has given the squad stability.

"Gamalski was serving very well," Rosen said. "She's going to be a very good setter. I just thought we had too many young players out there, and Shannon's added a lot of stability and confidence. She's also setting the best she ever has."

The Wolverines recently took a hit at outside hitter with an injury to sophomore Chantel Reedus that will keep her out for the season. There is still talent at the net in middle blocker Erin Moore and freshman outside hitter Jennifer Gandolph. With solid defense, serving and passing, the Wolverines could make a lot of noise in the second half.

"There is a big difference in this team when it's ready to play and when it isn't," Rosen said. "When we are playing well we can go toe-to-toe with almost any team in the conference."

Minnesota (5-5, 11-7)

Like Michigan, the Golden Gophers are experiencing growing pains. They returned just two starters from last year's 30-4 team that finished second in the conference, and coach Mike Hebert sees that inexperience is taking its toll. Their win against Illinois is their only victory against a winning conference team.

The Golden Gophers have gotten quality production from a number of offensive options, including returning All-Big Ten middle blocker Stephanie Hagen, and sophomore outside hitter Bethany Brafford. Setter Lindsey Berg has served as the team's leader and spread the ball out well. However Minnesota's inconsistency has been costly.

"I think I underestimated how hard it would be to win with players this young," Hebert said. "I think there will be some improvement in the second half because no one can say they're a true rookie anymore. They know what to expect now."

The young Golden Gophers will be tested on what they've learned about Big Ten volleyball when they take on Illinois this weekend.

Michigan State (4-6, 11-6)

Led by preseason All-Big Ten pick Erin Hartley, the Spartans jumped out to a 4-3 start, including a sweep at home against Minnesota, before dropping three straight games. They rely on a tough block at the net keyed by middle blocker Angela Morely, who ranks third in the conference in blocks. Hartley has been one of the conference's most accurate and physical hitters. She is a dangerous weapon, and some coaches think she hasn't even played to her potential yet.

"She's done everything we needed her to do, which is a lot," said coach Chuck Erbe. "She's been one of the best in the conference."

Northwestern (4-6, 8-9)

The Wildcats can already say this season has been an improvement. Coming off a 2-18 Big Ten season, they equaled their win total in the first week of their 2001 Big Ten campaign. They have since cooled down with six losses in their last eight games. The Wildcats have to make a lot of improvements in their passing, serving, and defense, but they have a very strong block led by sophomore middle blocker Erika Lange who leads the conference in blocks. The team's best upside certainly comes in its youth. There are no seniors on the roster, and just six juniors. Though coach Keylor Chan hasn't given up on this season, he knows its primary function is to give the Wildcats confidence for future seasons.

"It's good that the kids realize they can win," Chan said. "They know it's going to take a lot of work, but they're willing to do it. The future is very bright for this team."

Indiana (2-8, 5-13)

The Hoosiers are another team that is hoping there are better days in the future. Youth also abounds at Indiana, which has just three seniors, and a number of freshmen and sophomores holding down starting spots. The most impressive has been freshman outside hitter Christina Archibald, who is among the conference leaders in kills.

Iowa (3-14, 1-9)

The Hawkeyes have struggled through the first half with a lot of youth and not much vocal leadership. The Hawkeyes have just two seniors on the roster, one being injured setter Larisa Lopes. To fill that position, they had to use converted outside hitter Renee Hill. The only other senior is outside hitter Sara Meyermann. Though she has been tremendously productive, she leads more by example, and is not the type to take vocal command of the team.

Coach Rita Buck-Crockett is seeing improvement in her team, evidenced by their first win of the season Friday night against Northwestern and thinks the Hawkeyes have executed better recently.

Purdue (2-15, 1-9)

Despite the dismal record, coach Jeff Hulsmeyer says his team is surprisingly focused.

"No doubt about it, this team works hard," he said. "Despite not getting the outward reward, they haven't stopped giving their all."

The Boilermakers have just three seniors and two juniors after losing four starters that won just five games last season.

"We believe we can compete with anybody," Hulsemeyer said. "We just need to be more consistent, and that comes with experience."