(UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –The third-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team suffered a hard fought five-set loss at No. 19 Purdue, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 12-25, 16-14 on Friday night.
Despite falling behind 6-0 in the first set, Wisconsin (23-3, 14-3) rallied to take the frame, 25-22. The Badgers sided out on a Purdue (18-8, 12-5) service error and began to dig their way back into the set. UW went on a 4-0 run to trail by one (8-7). Fueled by eight kills from Sarah Franklin, Wisconsin took the lead at 14-13 and didn’t lose it. A 4-1 run pushed the lead further and the Badgers took set No. 1.
Opposite of the first set, the Badgers started hot with 4-0 run. Purdue continued to chip away and tied it up at 15 apiece. The Boilermakers used their momentum to close out the set, 25-19.
After an early back and forth battle in set three, Purdue distanced themselves with two 3-0 runs to take a 15-12 lead and force a Wisconsin timeout. The Badgers cut the lead to two (20-18), but Purdue outscored UW 5-2 to take a 2-1 advantage.
Set four was all Wisconsin as Devyn Robinson came alive with six kills, including four kills in a row during Wisconsin’s 9-0 run, giving it a 19-6 lead. From there the Badgers were able to close it out, 25-12, and force a fifth set.
The Boilermakers built a strong lead in the final set, as they took a 9-5 lead. Wisconsin clawed their way back in, point by point, to tie it up at 12 apiece. A kill by Devyn Robinson forced a Purdue timeout as the Badgers lead, 13-12. Purdue finished the match on a 4-1 run to take the set, 16-14, and the match.
Once again, Franklin led the Badgers with a career high 28 kills, as Carter Booth and Temi Thomas-Ailara added 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Robinson finished with 10 kills, as six of them came in the dominant fourth set. Wisconsin hit .259 (70 kills – 22 errors – 185 attempts).
Purdue was led by Eva Hudson, with a match-high 30 kills. The Boilermakers hit .247 (69 – 22 190).
UW recorded 10.0 total blocks, as Booth and Robinson led the way with five each. Gulce Guctekin finished with 25 digs.
Izzy Ashburn put up 32 assists and added a career-high 19 digs, as she posted her 12th double. MJ Hammill added 25 helpers.
The Badgers finished with eight service aces, as Franklin, Hammill, Ashburn and Guctekin all tallied two apiece.
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