(UW ATHLETICS) MINNEAPOLIS — Despite a strong first set, the No. 7 Wisconsin volleyball team lost 25-19, 15-25, 27-25, 25-15, 11-15 to No. 16 Minnesota in the Big Ten opener on Wednesday night.
Sarah Franklin put 21 kills away, a match-high, as the Badgers (6-4, 0-1 B1G) hit just .188 (56 kills – 24 errors – 170 attempts). Anna Smrek and Julia Orzol both finished in double figures with 13 kills each. Minnesota’s Lydia Grote led the Gophers (8-3, 1-0 B1G) with 17 kills, as they hit . 250 (66 – 24 – 168). In addition to Grote’s 17 kills, the Gophers had three additional players with double-digit kills totals for a well-balanced offensive attack.
After a back and forth start to the first set, the Badgers took command at 13-all. A kill from Smrek streamlined a Badger run, which included two kills and an ace from Franklin, as UW led 17-13. Minnesota sided out after that, but Wisconsin ran three more points to take a 20-14 lead. A kill from Charlie Fuerbringer put the set away for UW, winning it 25-19.
Similar to the first set, it was all tied up at 13-all, but Minnesota flipped the script and completely derailed the Badgers. The Gophers went on a 12-2 run to finish the set, 25-15.
After the Badgers scored the first point in the third set, Minnesota took the lead and held onto that lead until UW tied it up at 14-all with a kill from Franklin, and Orzol’s third service ace of the night in the third. Minnesota lined up two kills in a row, but Wisconsin responded with a Franklin kill and an ace from Devyn Robinson as UW took a 17-16 lead. The lead didn’t last long though, as the Gophers went on a 5-1 run, grabbing a 21-18 lead. But the runs continued as Wisconsin gained enough momentum at the end of the set to snag a set point. The Gophers, however, rattled off a kill and a solo block to take a set point of their own. Wisconsin went to the outsides to finish it off with a kill from Orzol and back-to-back kills from Franklin to win it 27-25.
In a must-win set for the Gophers, they hit the ground running. After getting out to a quick 6-2 lead, Minnesota held off Wisconsin runs as UW brought it within one (9-8). The Gophers extended its lead on a 7-1 run, forcing a Wisconsin timeout as the Badgers trailed 16-9. Out of the timeout, Wisconsin went on a 4-0 run to bring it back within three. The Badgers didn’t have much of an answer from there though, falling 25-15 in the fourth set.
It was all Minnesota to start the fifth set. Just as the Badgers began to turn the tide, Minnesota had a response. UW brought it within two on two separate occasions, but the Gophers maintained control. The Badgers continued to chip away, but came up short. It took six match points, but the Gopher took the final set, and match, 17-15.
Orzol tied a career-high with four aces, as the Badgers totaled 11 on the night. Charlie Fuerbringer added 43 assists.
With a change in lineup from what the Badgers had been going with, junior Gulce Guctekin stepped into the starting libero position tonight. She finished with a team-high 17 digs, as Orzol was not far behind with 16 digs to combine with her 13 kills for her third double-double of the season.
The Badgers had 13 blocks, compared to Minnesota’s nine. Smrek tallied six total blocks.
Notes to know
- Senior Julia Orzol tallied 16 digs on the night. Orzol only needed four digs to reach the 1,000 career dig mark.
- With 21 kills and 14 digs, fifth year senior Sarah Franklin tallied her sixth double-double of the season and 32nd in her career. It’s also Franklin’s fifth match of 20+ kills this season.
- Wisconsin recorded 11 service aces against the Gophers, the season-high for the team.
- Julia Orzol set a season-best with 16 digs. She also tallied 13 kills with her 16 digs for her third double-double of the season and 11th of her career. (ties a season best kills at 14)
Up next
The Badgers will remain on the road as they travel to Northwestern to take on the Wildcats on Saturday night. The match is set to start at 7 pm and will be aired on B1G+.
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