(UW ATHLETICS) PISCATAWAY, NJ – The No. 9 Wisconsin volleyball team cruised past the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in three sets (25-17, 25-16, 26-24) at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Thursday evening.
The Badgers (18-7, 12-3) finished with a .379 hitting percentage (43-10-87) and turned in eight blocks to hold Rutgers (12-15, 3-12) to a .126 showing (28-16-85).
Opposite Grace Lopez provided a strong stat line in her return, tallying 11 kills and 11 digs for her second double-double of the season, and 19th of her career. The senior also contributed three blocks and an ace. Jaela Auguste contributed her fourth-straight match with double-digit kills, adding 10 with zero hitting errors for a career-best .769 hitting percentage.
Setter Charlie Fuerbringer continued to set the Badgers to success, adding 34 assists alongside four digs and three kills of her own. The junior also provided four aces from the service line, matching her career-high.
The Badgers put together a strong start to the match, using a pair of 3-0 runs early to build separation from the Scarlet Knights behind strong hitting from Auguste and Lopez.
UW then provided a pair of 6-0 runs behind the service of setter Charlie Fuerbringer and outside hitter Grace Egan. Fuerbringer racked up back-to-back aces in that stretch to help build a 15-9 advantage before Egan extended it late, 20-11. From there, Wisconsin cruised to a 25-17 set one win, concluded by a Rutgers service error.
Wisconsin continued that momentum in set two, as they put together a four-point cushion heading into the media timeout. Outside hitter Halle Thompson caught a spark down the stretch, tallying two kills late to extend the Badgers’ lead, 18-13.
From there, the Badgers claimed five straight rallies to seal the second set 25-16 capped off by a kill from Lopez. Fuerbringer led another strong serving run, chipping in two more aces in that frame.
Rutgers got out to a hot start in the third set, taking a 15-11 advantage, before the two teams continued to trade points down the stretch. The Badgers put together 17 kills in the third frame to help power a late comeback.
Wisconsin then used a 3-0 run to grab the set in extra points, 26-24, behind a setter dump from Fuerbringer and an attack error.
With the sweep, the Badgers remain a perfect 19-0 against Rutgers — and haven’t dropped a set to the Scarlet Knights since 2014.
Notes:
- With the win, Wisconsin remains undefeated against Rutgers, improving to 19-0.
- The 3-0 sweeps marks Wisconsin’s seventh sweep of the season.
- The Badgers hit .379 (43-10-87) while holding its opponent to also a season-best low of .126 (28-16-95). This marks the ninth match of the season where the Badgers held it’s opponent under .200 hitting percentage.
- Outside hitter Grace Egan returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Florida on September 2. Egan tallied a seven kills, eight dig stat line.
- Opposite Grace Lopez also start and saw time on the court for the first time since Indiana on October 1. Lopez led the Badgers with 11 kills and 11 digs with a .429 hitting clip – a new season best. The 11 kills ties a season-best for Lopez and she also recorded her second double-double of the year (11 kills, 11 digs) and her 19th of her career.
- Setter Charlie Fuerbringer tied a career-best four service aces. This was last achieved on December 6, 2024 against Georgia Tech.
- Sophomore Kristen Simon started as the Badgers libero – the first she’s worn the libero jersey since Texas A&M on September 11.
- Middle blocker Jaela Auguste hit a new season and career-best .729, with a 10-0-13 stat line. The double-figure total also marks her eighth match and third-straight with 10 or more kills.
Up Next: Wisconsin will wrap up the road trip at Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 13. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. with the match airing on B1G+.
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