(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON — The No. 9 Wisconsin volleyball team upended No. 25 Washington 25-8, 25-14, 25-21 at the UW Field House on Sunday afternoon.
The Badgers (9-4, 3-1 B1G) hit .486 (40 kills – 4 errors – 74 attempts) on the day. Sarah Franklin had a match-high 12 kills, with Anna Smrek adding 10 kills.
Washington (13-1, 3-1 B1G) hit .114 (29 – 19 – 88) as Kiune Fletcher led the team with seven kills.
The Huskies and Badgers battled early, as they traded kills back and forth in the first set. It was all tied up at four apiece when Wisconsin distanced itself with a 3-0 run fueled by back-to-back blocks, taking a 7-4 lead. From that point on, Wisconsin completely derailed Washington. Two kills from Sarah Franklin forced a Husky timeout as they trailed 10-5. Wisconsin allowed Washington just three more points in the rest of the set. Charlie Fuerbringer went on an eight-point serving run to push Wisconsin ahead, 19-7. The Badgers hit .636 with no errors and tallied six blocks in the 25-8 set one victory.
In the second set, the Badgers picked up right where they left off, and grabbed a 12-5 lead as the Huskies called a timeout. Washington sided out after that timeout, and slowly chipped away at the Wisconsin lead. They brought it within six a couple times, but couldn’t break through. Wisconsin extended the lead with two service aces from Gulce Guctekin and two kills from Devyn Robinson. The Huskies scored just two more points, as the Badgers won set two 25-14.
Set three was much more evenly matched, with five lead changes and 13 ties. The Badgers trailed 10-9 after an attack error from Carter Booth. Wisconsin sided out after that point, and never trailed again. Julia Orzol and Robinson both tallied four kills each in the final frame. Washington called a timeout trailing 23-19, in hopes of slowing down the Badgers for one final push. But Wisconsin put the set and match away with a kill from Booth, to win it 25-21.
Charlie Fuerbringer put up 32 assists and added one service ace. The Badgers tallied six service aces, as Guctekin led the team with two.
Libero Lola Schumacher had a team-high 12 digs. The Badgers outblocked the Huskies 11.0-1.0. Booth recorded six blocks, with Robinson not far behind at five.
Straight from the court
Head coach Kelly Sheffield
On making changes from the last match: One of the things that we talked about at our last match is that I didn’t think our team came out ready to play the last match. I think we came out and were very physical in a lot of different areas and played extremely clean volleyball. One hitting error through the first two sets just doesn’t happen much. Four hitting errors through the entire match is just against statistically the best offensive team in the league. I think we sided out at over 85% against a team that’s just very good defensively. Which means that we’re controlling the ball and our setter is making some really good decisions and then we’re being really smart with our attack and, you know. I thought it was just a great team effort today.
Outside hitter Sarah Franklin
On improving over the course of the season: “It’s great that we have a coach that knows how much more we can do and he gets on us for it and that keeps us wanting more every time. I think all of us on the team just want to get better no matter what. Everything he says, we take it to heart.”
Opposite Anna Smrek
On setting up blocks: “We had a focus of being dynamic and to finish with our hands and directing where we want that ball to go. It is just going to keep being an emphasis as we move forward.”
Notes to know
- The Badgers held Washington to just .114 hitting percentage. This marks the fifth time this season where Wisconsin held its opponent under .200 hitting percentage.
- UW had just four hitting errors throughout the match (40 kills – 4 errors – 74 attempts).
- For the 11th time this season, Sarah Franklin (12) recorded a double-digit kill total.
- Wisconsin tallied 11.0 blocks, the fifth time this season with double-digit blocks in 2024.
- In a three-set match, Wisconsin reached a season-best .486 hitting percentage.
- The Badgers only trailed twice the entire match, 0-1 in the first set and 0-1 in the third set.
Up next
The Badgers will return to action on Friday night at 7 p.m. as they welcome Maryland to the UW Field House.
Comments