(UW COMMUNICATIONS) EVANSTON, IL- An efficient offensive attack led the No. 7 Wisconsin volleyball team to a 25-16, 25-16, 25-15, sweep over Northwestern on Saturday night.
Wisconsin (7-4, 1-1 B1G) hit .413 (40 kills – 9 errors – 75 attempts) on the night, as Sarah Franklin (11 kills), Devyn Robinson (nine kills) and Anna Smrek (eight kills) all hit above .500.
UW held Northwestern (3-7, 1-1 B1G) to just .067, as three Wildcats: Alexa Rousseau, Buse Hazan and Lily Wagner, all tallied six kills.
After it was all tied up at three in set one, Wisconsin took the lead on a 5-1 run to double the Wildcat score at 8-4. But Northwestern responded with a 4-1 run, including three kills in a row to bring it back within one (9-8). From there, the Badgers ran away with it, establishing a 20-12 lead and forcing an NU timeout. An ace from Charlie Furbringer rounded out a four service ace first set, 25-16.
It was all Carter Booth to start the second set, as she tabbed three blocks in the first three points. The Wildcats called an early timeout as they trailed 5-1. Wisconsin maintained a steady lead, as Northwestern struggled to find an answer to the UW balanced offensive attack. The Wildcats burned their second timeout of set two, behind 17-9. The deficit was too large for NU, as the Badgers hit .464 in set two, with the same result as set one, 25-16 in favor of UW.
A much more evenly matched third set kept the Wildcats within striking distance until a 3-0 run forced Northwestern to take a preventative timeout in hopes of slowing down UW as it led 9-6. Northwestern continued to keep it close, until a 5-0 run uprooted the Wildcats, as Wisconsin led 16-10. NU scored just five more points as the Badgers took care of business winning the final set, 25-15.
Freshman Lola Schumacher was back in the starting libero position tonight, as she led the team with eight digs. Fuerbringer recorded 27 helpers, along with three service aces. Gucle Guctekin tacked on three aces, as the Badgers finished with nine total. Along with the nine service aces, came 11 service errors.
UW outblocked NU 9.0-2.0. Booth had a match-high eight blocks.
Notes to know
- For a third time this season, the Badgers held its opponent under .100 hitting percentage. Northwestern hit just .067 (24-19-75).
- Junior Carter Booth recorded a season-high eight blocks.
- For the fourth time this season, the Badgers hit over .400 in a match. Wisconsin hit .413 (40-9-75).
- Fifth year senior Sarah Franklin led the team in kills for the eighth time this season.
- The Badgers extends its winning streak over Northwestern to 13 matches. UW improves to 60-29 overall against the Wildcats.
Up next
The Badgers will remain on the road for one more match, as they travel to Rutgers on Wednesday night. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
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