The No. 9 University of Wisconsin-Madison volleyball team swept the University of Washington Huskies in three straight sets on Oct. 6, winning 25-8, 25-14 and 25-21. Washington entered the match with an undefeated 13-0 record before losing to the Badgers.
The first set started competitively as both teams traded kills to reach a 4-4 tie, but a few kills from fifth-year outside hitter Sarah Franklin pushed the Badgers' lead to 10-6. Wisconsin then went on a dominant 14-1 run featuring three kills by Franklin and two kills from blockers Carter Booth and Anna Smrek.
Washington failed to record a kill for 15 consecutive points until outside hitter Madi Endsley finally scored for the Huskies, making it 24-8 in favor of the Badgers. Then, Smrek sealed the set with a final kill.
The second set kicked off much like the first as both teams battled hard, and the Badgers held a slight 7-5 lead early on. But, Wisconsin quickly gained momentum thanks to two kills from Franklin that pushed their lead to 12-5.
The teams continued to trade points, with Washington narrowing the gap to as close as six points. The Badgers shut the door with a strong 7-2 run, featuring two service aces from junior libero Gulce Guctekin and two kills each from Franklin and fifth-year outside hitter Devyn Robinson.
The third set was a nail-biter, with neither team able to pull ahead by more than two points. Washington kept things interesting with a balanced attack featuring kills from five different players. Outside hitter Audra Wilmes led the Huskies with four kills, while Kiune Fletcher added three.
It was senior outside hitter Julia Orzol who stepped up late in the set for the Badgers , delivering three crucial kills to keep Wisconsin in front. With the score at 20-19, the Badgers rallied, scoring three straight points thanks to a block and an ace from Orzol, pushing their lead to 23-19. Washington didn’t quit, closing the gap to 24-21, but Booth finished things off with a kill, completing the sweep for Wisconsin.
The key difference in the match was the head-to-head block count, with Wisconsin dominating Washington 11-1. Booth led the way with six blocks, Robinson with five and Smrek with four.
The Badgers also excelled from the service line, outscoring the Huskies 6-2. Franklin topped all players with 12 kills, while freshman setter Charlie Fuerbringer led with 32 assists.
The Badgers remain undefeated at home and look to continue this success into the latter part of their season.
