(UW ATHLETICS) BLOOMINGTON, IN – The No. 8 Wisconsin volleyball team put up 14 blocks as the Badgers took down Indiana 25-23, 25-18, 25-13 on Thursday night.
CC Crawford led the team with eight blocks, as Anna Smrek trailed with seven blocks.
Offensively, the Badgers (14-4, 8-1) hit .369 (49 kills – 11 errors – 103 attempts). Sarah Franklin had a match-high 15 kills, Smrek added 10.
Despite six service errors from the Badgers in set one, UW pulled out a 25-23 win. Wisconsin grabbed a 9-5 lead, but the Hoosiers responded with a 4-0 run to tie it all up. The Badgers gained some momentum off kills from Julia Orzol and Smrek as well as an ace from CC Crawford to take a 16-11 lead. Indiana slowly chipped away at the lead, as they brought it back within two (21-19). The Hoosiers held off three Wisconsin set points before the Badgers won it 25-23.
A slow start from Indiana prompted an early timeout, as UW led 3-0 to begin set three. The Hoosiers got within two, but the Badgers added a kill and a block to extend their lead to 7-3. From there the Badgers kept climbing as they led by as many as eight, at 18-10. The Hoosiers didn’t go away though, as they went on a 7-2 run with five kills and a service ace. Trailing 18-22, Indiana called its final timeout in hopes of slowing down the Badgers. Wisconsin ran three points out of the timeout to take set two 25-18.
The Badgers got out to a hot start in the third set, leading 7-0. The Badgers maintained a steady lead for the remainder of the set, as they won 25-13.
Lola Schumacher totaled 20 digs, while Julia Orzol added nine. Charlie Fuerbringer racked up 37 assists.
Notes to know
- With the win, head coach Kelly Sheffield becomes the winningest coach in program history with 306 Wisconsin career victories.
- CC Crawford hit a blocking milestone, collecting her 600th career block. In all, she recorded eight blocks against the Hoosiers.
- In back-to-back matches now, Wisconsin has held its opponent under .100 hitting percentage. The Badgers have now totaled six matches where the opponent has hit .100 or lower. The Hoosiers .083 (29 – 20 – 109).
- For the 16th time this season, outside hitter Sarah Franklin reached double-digit kills (15).
Up next
The Badgers will remain on the road to play at No. 10 Purdue on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
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