Aug. 26 at #6 Hawaii W, 3-1 Aug. 27 Arizona W, 3-0 Aug. 28 Kansas State W, 3-0 Sept. 2 #18 SAN DIEGO W, 3-0 Sept. 4 TEXAS A&M CC W, 3-0 Sept. 9 at #11 North Carolina L, 2-3 Sept. 10 vs. Louisville W, 3-0 Sept. 16 at #16 Texas A&M W, 3-0 Sept. 18 at #2 Texas W, 3-2 Sept. 23 #17 OHIO STATE W, 3-0 Sept. 24 MARYLAND W, 3-0 Sept. 30 at #14 Purdue W, 3-2 Oct. 1 at Indiana W, 3-0 Oct. 5 at Rutgers 6 pm Oct. 9 #24 ILLINOIS 7:30 pm Oct. 12 #1 MINNESOTA 8 pm Oct. 15 at #23 Michigan 6 pm Oct. 21 at #3 Nebraska 8 pm Oct. 22 at Iowa 7 pm Oct. 28 #15 PENN STATE 8 pm Oct. 30 RUTGERS 1 pm Nov. 2 at #14 Ohio State 7 pm Nov. 5 #17 PURDUE 7 pm Nov. 11 at #24 Illinois 7 pm Nov. 12 at Northwestern 7 pm Nov. 18 #23 MICHIGAN 7:30 pm Nov. 19 #21 MICHIGAN STATE 7 pm Nov. 23 IOWA 7 pm Nov. 26 at #1 Minnesota 7:30 pm Dec. 1-2 NCAA First Round TBA Dec. 2-3 NCAA Second Round TBA Dec. 9 NCAA Regional TBA Dec. 10 NCAA Regional TBA Dec. 15 NCAA Semifinals TBA Dec. 17 NCAA Championship TBA 2016 Schedule 1 Lauren Carlini SR S 2 Romana Kriskova SR OH 3 Lauryn Gillis JR OH 4 Kelli Bates JR OH 6 Mallory Dixon FR S 7 Amber MacDonald SO DS 8 Sarah Dodd FR DS 10 Tori Blake SR MB 11 Tionna Williams SO MB 12 Julia Saunders SO MB 13 Haleigh Nelson SR MB 14 Madison Duello SO OH 15 Jordan Robbins JR S 19 M.E. Dodge FR DS 23 Molly Haggerty FR OH Complete Roster

BADGERS TRAVEL TO RUTGERS, HOST NO. 24 ILLINOIS
No. 2 Wisconsin (12-1, 4-0 B1G) splits its competition with one road match and one home match this week. The Badgers travel to Rutgers (4-13, 0-4) on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. CT match from College Avenue Gym in New Brunswick, New Jersey. UW returns home on Saturday to host No. 24 Illinois (10-5, 3-1) at 7:30 p.m. live on the Big Ten Network.

PROMOTION
Pink Night—Saturday, Oct. 8 vs. Illinois - 7:30 p.m.
Arrive early to receive a pink rally towel while supplies last, courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics.
 

Match 14 | at Rutgers  Date  Wednesday, Oct. 5 | 6 p.m. CT  Location  College Ave Gym | New Brunswick, NJ  Video  BTN Plus  Mobile App  Badger Gameday  Live Stats  Gametracker  Radio  The Mic 92.1 or iHeartRadio app  Social Media  @BadgerVB | Facebook  Match Notes  Wisconsin | Rutgers

Match 15 | NO. 24 ILLINOIS  Date  Saturday, Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m.  Location  UW Field House | Madison, Wis.  TV  Big Ten Network or BTN2Go  Mobile App  Badger Gameday  Live Stats  SidearmStats.com  Radio  The Mic 92.1 or iHeartRadio app  Social Media  @BadgerVB | Facebook  Match Notes  Wisconsin | Illinois

QUICK NOTES

• Wisconsin opened the Big Ten season 4-0 for the first time since 2007. The Badgers edged No. 14 Purdue before sweeping Indiana on the road. UW is one of only three teams that are undefeated to open conference play.
• UW has won 16 straight Big Ten matches, dating back to last season. The Badgers have not lost a conference match since falling at then-No. 11 Minnesota on Oct. 17, 2015.
• The Badgers have also won 13 straight home matches, including nine-straight Big Ten matches. Wisconsin has not lost in the Field House since falling to then-No. 11 Minnesota on Oct. 14, 2015.
• Head coach Kelly Sheffield is only three wins away from 100 victories at Wisconsin. The fourth-year head coach is 97-21 (.822) on the Badger bench.
• The Badgers are 6-1 against AVCA Top-25 teams this season after downing No. 14 Purdue last Friday. UW has also defeated then-No. 6 Hawaii, then-No. 18 San Diego, then-No. 16 Texas A&M, then-No. 2 Texas and then-No. 17 Ohio State with its only loss coming at then-No. 11 North Carolina.
• Wisconsin leads the Big Ten with 3.13 blocks per set and 15.20 digs per set. Sophomore Tionna Williams ranks third in the conference with 1.60 blocks per set while senior Haleigh Nelson is fifth with 1.30 blocks per set. Junior Kelli Bates ranks eighth in digs per set with 3.78.
•  In Big Ten-only matches, senior Haleigh Nelson leads the conference with a .475 hitting percentage. The 6-4 middle blocker has hit better than 36 percent in all four Big Ten matches this season, including two matches over 50 percent.
• Wisconsin is ranked first in the initial NCAA RPI released Oct. 2. The Badgers have played all 13 matches against teams in the top 100 of the RPI, including six matches against top-25 teams.

WISCONSIN RANKED FIRST IN NCAA RPI
In the first NCAA RPI of the season, released Oct. 2, Wisconsin is ranked first. The RPI is one of the tools used by the NCAA committee to select tournament teams. The Badgers have played all 13 matches against teams in the top 100 of the RPI, including six matches against top-25 teams.
    The Big Ten has seven teams in the top 30, including three in the top-four. In addition to the Badgers, Minnesota is second and Nebraska comes in fourth. Purdue is ranked seventh while Michigan is 12th. NCAA RPI, Oct. 2

BADGERS MOVE UP TO SECOND NATIONAL POLL
The Badgers moved up one spot to second in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches' poll released Oct. 2. Following Nebraska's loss to Ohio State, Minnesota (12-1) moves up to first place followed by the Badgers. Nebraska (12-1) falls to third while Texas (12-2) remains fourth. San Diego (13-2) moves up one spot to fifth.
    The Big Ten has a total of nine teams in this week's poll. In addition to the top-three teams, Ohio State (12-4) jumps up five spots to 19th after upsetting the Huskers. Penn State (12-3) moves up one place to 15th while Purdue (11-4) drop three spots to 17th. Michigan State (13-3) falls three places to 21st while Michigan (13-3) moves back one place to 22nd. Illinois (10-5) remains 24th.  Entire AVCA Top 25 Poll

BIG TEN WIN STREAK AT 16
UW has won 16-straight Big Ten matches dating back to Oct. 17, 2015, when it lost at then-No. 11 Minnesota.
    The Badgers have also won 13 straight home matches dating back to the 2015 season. Wisconsin has won nine straight Big Ten home matches, losing to then-No. 11 Minnesota on Oct. 14, 2015.

 

Match Notes Complete volleyball notes in printable PDF form

SHEFFIELD COUNTING DOWN TO 100 WINS
Head coach Kelly Sheffield is in his fourth season on the Badger bench. He is 97-21 (.822) at Wisconsin and should win No. 100 at UW this season. He could become the fastest coach to reach 100 wins at Wisconsin. Former head coach Pete Waite won 100 matches 24 contests into his fourth season.  
    Sheffield is also 370-133 (.736) in his 16th year as a head coach. The Badgers have advanced to at least the NCAA Sweet 16 all three years under Sheffield, including a championship match appearance in 2013. Sheffield's Badgers have earned 11 All-America honors while six have earned All-Big Ten awards.

TOUGH SCHEDULE
UW is 6-1 against AVCA Top-25 teams this season after downing No. 14 Purdue last Friday. Wisconsin has also defeated then-No. 6 Hawaii, then-No. 18 San Diego, then-No. 16 Texas A&M, then-No. 2 Texas, and then-No. 17 Ohio State with its only loss coming at then-No. 11 North Carolina.
    The Badgers have played the fourth-toughest schedule in the country, according to the NCAA RPI. Texas ranks first followed by Purdue and Stanford.
    In 2015, Wisconsin was 8-5 against top-25 teams, tying for the fifth-most wins over ranked teams in program history. Wisconsin defeated a school record 12 ranked teams in 1998.

TOUGH DEFENSE
WWisconsin leads the Big Ten with 3.13 blocks per set and 15.20 digs per set in all matches. UW has held 10 of 13 opponents this season to a hitting percentage under .200, including four foes under .100. The Badgers have outdug 12-of-13 opponents this season while tying one foe. UW is averaging more than 2.0 digs per set more than their foes (15.20 - 13.04). Wisconsin is also out blocking opponents 144.0–102.5 (3.13/set to 2.23/set) on the season, recording more blocks than nine foes.
    Sophomore Tionna Williams ranks third in the conference with 1.60 blocks per set while senior Haleigh Nelson is fifth with 1.30 blocks per set. Junior Kelli Bates ranks eighth in digs per set with 3.78.

GREAT STARTS
UW opened the Big Ten season 4-0 for the first time since 2007. That ties for the fifth-best Big Ten opening in program history.
    Wisconsin opened the 2016 season 5-0 before losing at then-No. 18 North Carolina on Sept. 9. UW's 12-1 record ties for the sixth best opening in program history with one loss.
 

Big Ten Opening			Season Opening with 1 Loss
1.	2001	11-0	1.	2007	17-1
2.	2007	9-0	2.	1998	15-1
3.	1998	5-0	3.	1996	13-1
	2005	5-0		2000	13-1
5.	2016	4-0		2005	13-1
	2006	4-0	6.	2016	12-1
	1994	4-0		1997	12-1
	1990	4-0		2012	12-1

NELSON GETS ATTACK BACK ON TRACK
In Big Ten-only matches, senior Haleigh Nelson leads the conference with a .475 hitting percentage. The 6-4 middle blocker has hit better than 36 percent in all four Big Ten matches this season, including two matches over 50 percent. Nelson has double-figure kills in two matches this Big Ten season, averaging a team-best 2.50 kills per set. She also ranks second on the squad with 1.14 blocks per set.
    On the season, Nelson leads the Badgers and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a .371 hitting percentage. She also ranks fifth in blocks per set with 1.30.

BADGERS HAVE THIRD-BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE
Wisconsin is tied for third nationally in win-loss percentage at .923. The Badgers are also fifth in blocks per set with 3.13.
    Sophomore Tionna Williams ranks eighth nationally with 1.60 blocks per set. She aslo ranks 74th with a .360 hitting percentage.  enior Lauren Carlini ranks 11th in the nation with 11.30 assists per set. Senior Haleigh Nelson is 38th nationally with 1.30 blocks per set. She is also 54th with a .371 hitting percentage.  All NCAA Statistics

PERFECT PASS
The Badgers have given up only 24 service aces this season, which ranks first in the Big Ten. Opponents are averaging just 0.52 service aces per set. UW has recorded more service aces than 11 of 13 opponents, while tying the last two foes. Wisconsin is averaging 1.17 aces per set in all matches while upping that to 1.57 per set in Big Ten-only matches, which ranks fourth in the conference.
    Junior Kelli Bates and freshman Molly Haggerty tie for 10th in Big Ten-only matches with 0.36 service aces per set.  On the season, senior Haleigh Nelson has a team-best 12 service aces (0.26/set). Haggerty and Lauren Carlini rank second with 10 service aces (0.22/set) while Bates chips in eight aces (0.17/set).

BADGERS LEAD THE BIG TEN
As a team, Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in digs per set (15.20) and blocks per set (3.12). The Badgers are also second in opponent hitting percentage (.144).   
Individually senior Lauren Carlini ranks third with 11.30 assists per set. Sophomore Tionna Williams ranks third with 1.60 block per set while senior Haleigh Nelson is fifth with 1.30 blocks per set. Junior Kelli Bates is eighth with 3.78 digs per set. Freshman Molly Haggerty is ninth with 3.49 kills per set.   
    In Big Ten-only matches, Wisconsin ranks second in the league in opponent hitting percentage (.154) while ranking third in hitting percentage (.301) and blocks per set (2.79).  All Big Ten Statistics

CAREER HIGH SET
One Badger set a career high last weekend.

• Sophomore Tionna Williams had a career-high 17 kills at Purdue on Sept. 30. 

I GOT THAT!
One Badger surpassed a career milestone last weekend in Indiana.

• Freshman Molly Haggerty picked up career dig No. 100 at Purdue. She has 106 digs as a rookie.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Three UW players are closing in on career milestones.

• Freshman M.E. Dodge needs just three digs for 100 saves.
• Senior Romana Krišková is seven digs away from 600 for her career. She is also just seven sets away from playing in 400 sets for her career.
• Sophomore Amber MacDonald will reach 300 career digs with 18 saves.
   

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights hold a 4-13 season record, starting Big Ten play 0-4. Over the weekend, Rutgers suffered losses to two ranked opponents, falling in three sets to No. 22 Michigan and No. 18 Michigan State in New Brunswick.
    Rutgers runs a 6-2 offense as Megan Sharkey, a 5-10 freshman setter, leads the team with 289 assists (4.48/set) while 6-0 junior setter Talia Holze follows close behind with 249 assists (4.29/set).
    The team averages 2.63 blocks per set, led by 6-1 redshirt senior middle blocker Mikaela Matthews with 73 (1.26/set). Jasmine Stackhouse, a 6-3 freshman middle blocker, contibutes 1.17 blocks/set while 6-3 senior right side hitter Lauren Cloyd averages 1.03 blocks per set.
    Karysa Swackenberg, a 5-8 freshman defensive specialist, adds 181 digs (3.12) and 16 service aces for the Knights, while 6-1 junior outside hitter Meme Fletcher contributes 2.22 saves per set, as well as 14 aces and a team-high 158 kills (2.72/set).
    Cloyd averages 2.38 kills per set, while Matthews hits a team-high .343 hitting percentage with 94 kills and 26 errors on 198 attempts.

vs. Rutgers
Wisconsin leads 4-0
In New Brunswick: Wisconsin leads 2-0
In 2015: The Badgers swept the Scarlet Knights in both meetings last season.

#24 Illinois
The 24th-ranked Fighting Illini sit in a tie for seventh place in Big Ten standings with a 3-1 conference record, dropping their only Big Ten match to No. 1 Nebraska. On Sunday, Illinois rebounded to defeat Maryland in five sets.
    Illinois ranks second in the conference in blocks, behind only Wisconsin, averaging 3.00 blocks per set. Nine different Illini average more than 0.50 blocks per set, led by Ali Bastianelli, a 6-3 sophomore middle blocker, who leads the Big Ten with her 104 blocks (1.86/set), while 6-3 senior middle blocker Katie Stadick averages 0.90 blocks per set.
    Brandi Donnelly, a 5-8 junior defensive specialist, has recorded 231 digs (4.12/set) this season, adding 34 assists and a team-high nine service aces. A 5-9 senior defensive specialist, Danielle Davis contributes 1.62 digs per set and 6-2 sophomore setter Jourdyn Poulter adds 1.46 saves per set and a team-high .432 hitting percentage.
    Jacqueline Quade, a 6-2 freshman outside hitter, leads the Illini with 181 kills (3.23/set), followed by 2.77 kills per set from 6-1 senior outside hitter Michelle Strizak. Naya Crittenden, a 6-2 senior opposite side hitter, adds 2.20 kills per set, while Stadick contributes 2.00.
    Poulter, named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, ranks ninth in the conference with a team-high 571 assists (10.20/set), while hitting seven aces.

vs. Illinois
Illinois leads 47-35-1
In Madison: Wisconsin leads 20-16-1
In 2015: The Badgers downed the Fighting Illini 3-1 in Madison on Sept. 30 and edged Illinois 3-2 in Champaign on Nov. 18.

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