The Badgers remain undefeated after beating the Hoosiers in three sets. No. 1 Wisconsin (7-0) swept Indiana (2-5) Friday afternoon (25-21, 25-17, 25-13).
Despite several errors early on, the Badgers kept energy high, something they’ve struggled with this season. Freshman middle blocker/right side Devyn Robinson showed up in big ways for the Badgers. Robinson led both teams with a career high of 18 kills, and finished the match with a .654 hitting percentage.
“I really felt the trust between us tonight,” Robinson said. “I just love the game so much and I want to win for my team.”
Setter Sydney Hilley remains a constant for the Badgers, and had 34 assists Friday evening. She also put up four of the Badgers’ 18 blocks on Friday.
“[Hilley] did a great job and [Robinson] finished,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “[Hilley] started running her on some quicks, which we haven't done a whole lot with [Robinson], and she was great. The connection between her and [Hilley] was fantastic.”
The teams were neck and neck for most of the first set, due in part to seven Badger service errors. The Badgers took the first set 25-21, giving the Hoosiers 16 of their points off of errors.
The Badgers finished the first set with a .140 hitting percentage to the Hoosiers’ -0.29. Middle blocker and reigning Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year Dana Rettke was struggling early on in the match. She finished the first set with just one kill, four hitting errors and a hitting percentage of -.600.
The unranked Hoosiers fought hard in every set Friday evening, but the Badgers strengthened as the match went on. Wisconsin finished with a .316 hitting percentage and 44 team kills. The Hoosiers finished the match with a hitting percentage of -0.022 and 21 team kills.
Rettke also improved, and finished the match with seven kills after taking time off the floor.
“We gave her a little bit of opportunity to clear her head,” Sheffield said of Rettke postgame. “She came back and was a lot better.”
Wisconsin will play Indiana again Saturday at 4 p.m CT.
