Since Pete Waite began coaching college volleyball, the 5-1 alignment that features one setter was his offense of choice.

Since Waite took over at the University of Wisconsin in 1999, setters like Lizzy (Fitzgerald) Stemke, Morgan Shields and Jackie Simpson adeptly ran the system that brought success to the Badgers and All-American recognition to those three.

But after examining his roster this offseason, Waite decided the time was right to switch to a 6-2 offense, using two setters.

He believed redshirt sophomore Nikki Klingsporn and incoming freshman Janelle Gabrielsen — the state's 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year from Menomonee Falls — were set to go.

"We just feel it's the best use of personnel," said Waite, in his 21st season as an NCAA Division I head coach. "We feel it will accentuate our strengths and hide any weaknesses we have. When you always have three front-row attackers and possibly a fourth attacker in the back row, that's a benefit of the offense, too. … It makes the defense work harder with so many attackers coming at them."

Led by the setting duo of Nikki and Nellie, Waite seeks his 500th career victory when the 14th-ranked Badgers (5-1) open their home season against Central Michigan (5-1) at the InnTowner Invitational at 7 p.m. Friday at the UW Field House.

The Badgers still are developing their roles, passing attack and chemistry, but Waite likes what he sees. The 5-foot-10 Klingsporn is a strong jump-server and defender. She had 17 assists and a career-high 11 digs in UW's 3-0 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.

"I've always run a 5-1, so I have to get used to getting into a rhythm with only three rotations, instead of six, as well as setting those specific hitters instead of all six hitters," Klingsporn said. "Also, (I have to get used to) being an encourager when I'm on the bench."

Klingsporn, a former Miss Volleyball Minnesota from Oakdale, Minn., usually is replaced in the front row by 6-3 Katherine Dykstra — a move designed to give the Badgers a more formidable attack and bigger block.

The 6-1 Gabrielsen, meanwhile, is a top all-around threat demonstrated by her stats in a 3-2 win at UNLV Sept. 5: 37 assists, 16 digs, and eight kills, which narrowly missed being the program's first triple-double.

"Defensively, she may be the best defensive setter we've had, possibly ever," Waite said of Gabrielsen, ranked 12th on PrepVolleyball.com's list of top 100 seniors and a 2008 Volleyball Magazine "Fab 50" selection.

Gabrielsen has significant experience in the 6-2 offense, so she is comfortable with UW's system. However, she said the adjustment to college volleyball has been somewhat difficult because she was used more as a hitter than a setter in club volleyball and she is coming off January surgery for a stress fracture in her right leg, just below the knee.

She said she had a rod inserted in her leg during surgery after overuse from playing volleyball and basketball caused the injury.

"I was scared about my legs," she said. "I'm used to playing volleyball all year round and I had to miss 3.5 months."

Watching Klingsporn set in practice has helped Gabrielsen's learning curve, and each day she believes her leg is improving, though she said it still gets sore.