Badgers shake the Rattlers
September 06, 2014 | Volleyball
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Sept. 6, 2014
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The fourth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team improved to 4-0 on the season with a 25-16, 25-14, 21-25, 25-11 win over Florida A&M in the second round of the Northern Colorado/Colorado State Classic on Saturday afternoon.
All 14 eligible players saw action in at least one set for the Badgers as head coach Kelly Sheffield went to his bench throughout the match. The substitutions may have cost Wisconsin the third set though as the Rattlers won the period, their first set win of the season.
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After easily winning the first two sets, the Badgers struggled early in the third set, recording six unforced hitting errors to trail 9-2. Wisconsin pulled within two (15-13) but couldn't stop the A&M offense that hit .323 in the period, compared to just .093 for UW. The Badgers came within one (21-20) but the Rattlers' Pamela Soriano put away three kills to send the match to a fourth set.
With the regular starters back on the court, Wisconsin easily dispatched Florida A&M (0-5) in the fourth set to remain undefeated on the year.
Senior Ellen Chapman continued her four-match streak with double-figure kills, putting away a team-high 11. Senior Deme Morales added 10 kills as 10 Badgers tallied at least one kill. Sophomore Tori Blake was a highlight off the bench, tallying a career-best five kills while hitting .556.
Wisconsin hit .293 (62 kills - 23 errors - 133 attempts) while A&M hit .123 (36-21-122). The Rattlers had just five blocks as the Badgers tallied 18 unforced hitting errors, including 10 in the third set. Soriano had a match-high 17 kills for Florida A&M.
Junior Taylor Morey dominated the back row, recording a match-high 20 digs for her second-straight match with 20-or-more saves. Sophomore Lauren Carlini added 13 digs, tallying her second-straight double-double as she also put up 37 assists.
The Badgers outblocked the Rattlers 8-5, led by a season-high six from senior Dominique Thompson.
Both teams recorded three service aces with Wisconsin giving up just four service errors.
Wisconsin wraps up play in the tournament tonight when it takes on No. 13 Colorado State at 8 p.m.













