CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In a battle that tested the No. 10 Wisconsin volleyball team in every aspect of the game, the Badgers downed No. 18 Illinois in a five-set thriller on Wednesday night to pick up its ninth-straight win.
 
The 25-22, 10-25, 25-22, 26-28, 15-12 victory tested the mental and physical toughness of both teams, but in the end it was the Badgers who came out on top in Huff Hall to pick up their first five-set win of the season.
 
"This has got to be our best win of the year," UW Head Coach Kelly Sheffield said. "It was kind of an ugly match, a very defensive match. We came out there in game two and got pummeled, but in the locker room we said 'hey, we haven't been challenged in a while, let's embrace that and this will feel way better if we can stay with the fight.'"
 
Behind a career-match from junior Haleigh Nelson, the Badgers overcame offensive struggles to find a way to win. Wisconsin (21-6, 13-4 Big Ten) hit .160 (65 kills - 35 errors - 188 total errors) against a stingy Illini defense while lllinois hit .200 (63-26-185).
 
"This is one of those where you throw out the stat sheet. This was a win based on guts and toughness," Sheffield said. "Even though the numbers were struggling, I saw our team really stay with it and encourage each other and connect."
 
After splitting the first four sets, the Badgers confronted a fired up Illini squad and crowd to start the fifth set. After falling behind 7-4, freshman Tionna Williams and junior Lauren Carlini combined for the block to slow the mounting Illinois momentum. The Badger block later came in clutch yet again as redshirt junior Romana Kriskova and Nelson cut the lead to 9-8. One kill by sophomore Kelli Bates and two straight swings by Kriskova finally tied it up at 11-11 and forced the UI timeout.
 
UW couldn't be slowed coming out of the break as Williams fired off a kill before pairing with Kriskova for the block. The finish line of the marathon match was in sight after an Illini error, but a final Naya Crittenden kill cut the Badger lead to 14-12. With the first five-set victory of the season within reach, it was Kriskova who saved the day as she put down one last kill to seal the Badger victory.
 
Leading the Badgers on offense was Nelson, who tied her career high with a match-high 18 kills. Williams followed with 13 and Bates totaled 12. Carlini also added a match-high 57 assists.
 
The Badgers started things off with a bang to open the match. A kill by Williams sparked a 5-0 Badger run that included two service aces from senior Taylor Morey and the Illini were forced to take a timeout just five points into the match. The Illini clawed their way back with a 5-0 run of their own as the Badgers struggled to maneuver around the Illinois block, but Williams finally snapped the streak by firing off a kill. An Illini service error brought set point, but a kill by Crittenden extended the set before Kriskova put it away to grab a one-set lead.
 
After a strong first set, the Badgers had no response the Illini block and a fired-up attacking duo of Jocelynn Birks and Katie Stadick. After the Illini raced to a 12-1 lead, Bates fired off the first UW kill of the set but the Badgers continued to struggle on defense. A Nelson swing followed by a block with Bates brought the score to 22-8 and showed hints of a more composed defense, but the mounting comeback came too late in the set.  Another kill by Bates followed by a block from sophomore Lauryn Gillis and Nelson staved off the first two Illini set points, but a final Illinois block evened the match to 1-1.
 
The Badgers returned for the third set ready to seek revenge. After grabbing an 8-5 lead, the Illini responded with three straight kills to tie it at 8-8. Both sides then traded kills to tie the score eight more times. A kill by Nelson tied it at 16-16, but back-to-back kills by Stadick paved the way to a 21-17 Illini lead.
 
UW refused to give up as the end of the set loomed. Gillis got things going with a kill, while an error paired with a Badger block cut the Illini lead to 21-20. Following another Williams kill, a crucial block by Bates tied the score for the ninth and final time. This time it was the Badgers who gained the lead for good as an Illini error put UW up 23-22. A swing by Carlini brought set point, and a final Bates kill brought the 8-1 Badger run and back-and-forth third set to an end.
 
To open the fourth set, both teams continued to trade the lead before a 5-0 Badger run keyed by three kills and a block by Nelson put UW up 13-10. Refusing to back off, the Illini responded with a 7-1 run to take a 17-14 lead and force the UW timeout. The stoppage paid off as the Badgers came out with a 3-0 run to tie it back up at 17-17.
 
Eight more tied scores followed as both defenses fought for every point. The Badgers staved off one set point thanks to a kill by Nelson and a block by Williams and Kriskova brought match point for the Badgers. Crittenden kept the Illini alive with a kill, but Kriskova retaliated with a swing of her own to put the Badgers up 26-25. In the end, however, it was the Illini who finished on top as a block and service ace brought set point and an error tied the match at 2-2.
 
In a match that came down to defense, the Badger backcourt proved to be the difference-maker. Despite being outblocked 13-16, UW had an 82-77 advantage in digs. Morey recorded a match-high 27 digs while Bates totaled 15 to record her eighth double-double of the season. Carlini and Gillis also reached double figures with 12 and 11, respectively.
 
At the net, Nelson totaled seven blocks to pace the Badgers while Williams and Kriskova each added five.
 
Next up, the Badgers look to extend their winning streak to 10 as they take on No. 16 Ohio State on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) in the UW Field House.