The University of Wisconsin-Madison volleyball team swept Northwestern in three straight sets at home, reminiscent of its head-to-head against Northwestern less than three weeks ago in Evanston. While the overall outcomes were the same — a 3-0 sweep for the Badgers — the individual sets were much more competitive this time around.
During their previous meeting in Evanston, the Badgers had dominated with set scores of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-15. But in the recent rematch at the Field House, the Badgers won with closer set scores of 25-13, 25-23 and 25-20. Despite the tighter sets, Wisconsin maintained their strong form and recorded their fourth .400 hitting match of the season, achieving double-digit blocks for a third consecutive match.
The Badgers had a strong showing in the first set. After trailing 0-2, Wisconsin took control with an 8-1 run thanks to key kills from fifth-year outside hitter Sarah Franklin, senior middle blocker Anna Smrek and senior outside hitter Julia Orzol. The Badgers kept their momentum, trading points and finishing the set 25-13 with a block from fifth-year outside hitter Devyn Robinson.
The second set was the most competitive of the night, with neither team able to lead by more than two points until Northwestern took a 19-16 lead. Wildcats middle blocker Sophia Summers contributed multiple kills and a block, while setter Alexa Rousseau added nine assists and two kills. When the score was tied at 16-16, Northwestern went on a 3-0 run, prompting Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield to call a timeout.
The Badgers responded with a clutch 6-0 run, featuring two kills from Smrek and a kill and a block from Franklin, to take a 23-20 lead. But Northwestern refused to give up, with Rousseau and outside hitter Lily Wagner each adding a kill to narrow the gap to 24-23. Smrek sealed the set with a final kill, securing a teeth-gritting 25-23 victory for the Badgers.
The last set began much like the second, with a back-and-forth battle. Senior middle blocker CC Crawford registered two blocks midway through the set to give the Badgers a three-point lead. From there, the lead fluctuated between four and two points until the Badgers scored three in a row thanks to two kills from Orzol and a service ace from junior libero Gulce Guctekin, which put them ahead 23-17. The Badgers sealed the game with a kill from Robinson to complete the sweep of Northwestern.
Both teams had similar totals in kills and aces, but the real difference maker was blocks. The Badgers out-blocked Northwestern 12-5. Crawford led the Badgers with eight blocks, just one shy of her season-high of nine from the previous game against Maryland.
Northwestern's Sophia Summers led all players with three aces, while Franklin topped the kill count with 14, followed closely by Smrek with 13 kills. Freshman setter Charlie Fuerbringer led the way with 38 assists.
