Photo by: Diane Nordstrom
This week in Badger Volleyball: Aug. 29 - Sept. 4
August 31, 2016 | Volleyball
Wisconsin opens home season this weekend
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After winning the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu last weekend, the second-ranked Badgers (3-0) open their home season by hosting the 29th-annual HotelRED Invitational. The Badgers host No. 18 San Diego (1-1) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (2-1) in the tournament that runs Friday–Sunday in the UW Field House. Â
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday, Sept, 2 vs. San Diego - 7 p.m.
- UW Student Block Party: First 500 UW students receive FREE admission and FREE pizza with a valid UW student ID. Available while supplies last!
- Team Poster and Schedule Magnet Giveaway: Fans receive the 2016 Wisconsin Volleyball team schedule poster and magnet courtesy of UW Health.
- Volleyball 101 Night: All Volleyball 101 participants are welcomed back to the UW Field House.
- Hand Fan Giveaway: Arrive early to receive a FREE "Point Wisconsin" hand fan courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics and tournament sponsor, HotelRED
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BADGERS MOVE UP TO SECOND IN NATIONAL POLL
Wisconsin moves up two spots to second in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches' poll released Aug. 29. That ties for the highest ranking in program history.
    The Badgers were also ranked second for three weeks at the end of the 2014 regular season and second in the final polls in 2013 and 2000.
    Nebraska (2-0) remains atop the poll followed by the Badgers. Texas (1-1) falls one spot to third while Kansas (3-0) moves up one spot to fourth. Washington (2-0) takes a two-spot jump to fifth.
    Seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the top 25. Minnesota (1-1) falls to sixth after losing at Stanford on Sunday. Ohio State (3-0) moves up four spots to 11th while Penn State (2-1) drops four spots to 13th. Illinois (2-1) falls back three places to 17th while Purdue (2-1) drops to 24th. Michigan State and Michigan receive votes. Entire AVCA Top 25 Poll
UW WINS RAINBOW WAHINE INVITATIONAL
The Badgers won the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu last weekend with a 3-0 record, marking the 16th time in program history that UW has won at least three matches to start the season.
    Under head coach Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin opened the 2013 season 6-0 and the 2014 year 9-0.
    The best opening in program history is an 11-0 mark in 2010.
Best Season Opening
2010Â Â Â 11-0
1996Â Â Â 10-0
1994Â Â Â 10-0
2014Â Â Â 9-0
1997Â Â Â 9-0
1976Â Â Â 9-0
1987Â Â Â 7-0
2013Â Â Â 6-0
1974Â Â Â 6-0.
TRIO NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
Seniors Lauren Carlini and Haleigh Nelson along with sophomore Tionna Williams were named to the Rainbow Wahine Invitational All-Tournament team with Carlini earning MVP honors.
Carlini averaged a nation's best 13.30 assists per set on the weekend as the Badgers' hit at a .261 clip as a team. She also led the team with four service aces (0.40/set) while adding 3.00 digs and 0.90 blocks per set.
    Nelson leads the team with a .424 hitting percentage. She recorded a season-high 14 kills at Hawai'i while hitting a season-best .471 against Kansas State. The 6-4 middle blocker also added 0.90 blocks per set and two service aces.
    Williams leads the Badgers with 1.50 blocks per set after the weekend. She led the team in blocks all three matches, including a season-high six at Hawaii. The 6-2 middle blocker also adds 2.4 kills per set while hitting .302. Â
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Senior Lauren Carlini and freshman Molly Haggerty were honored by the Big Ten on Monday. Carlini was named the Big Ten Co-Setter of the Week while Haggerty was named the Freshman of the Week. Â
Carlini picks up her ninth Big Ten Setter of the Week award while Haggerty was named the inaugural freshman of the week for the 2016 season. She is the first UW freshman of the week since Tionna Williams was honored twice in 2015.
    Haggerty leads the Badgers with 4.20 kills per set while hitting .243. She also adds 2.70 digs and 0.40 blocks per set.
CARLINI NATIONAL LEADER IN ASSISTS
Senior Lauren Carlini leads the nation with 13.30 assists per set. Junior Kelli Bates ranks 25th nationally and leads the Big Ten with 5.40 digs per set.
Sophomore Tionna Williams ranks 46th nationally and sixth in the Big Ten with 1.50 blocks per set. Freshman Molly Haggerty is 55th nationally and third in the Big Ten with 4.20 kills per set. Senior Haleigh Nelson ranks 68th nationally and 10th in the Big Ten with a .424 hitting percentage.
    As a team, Wisconsin ranks seventh in kills per set (15.80), seventh in assists per set (14.70), 27th in digs per set (17.80), 55th in blocks per set (2.60), and 64th in hitting percentage (.261). UW is also 62nd in opponent hitting percentage (.142) and tied with 66 other teams with an undefeated record.  All NCAA Statistics
SHEFFIELD COUNTING DOWN TO 100 WINS AT UW
Head coach Kelly Sheffield is in his fourth season on the Badger bench. He is 88-20 (.814) at Wisconsin and should win No. 100 at UW this season.
Sheffield is also 361-132 (.732) 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.
THAT'S A LOT OF MILES
The Badgers will travel more than half the earth's circumference during the non-conference season.
Wisconsin opened its season with a trip to Hawai'i (8,304 miles).
After a home weekend, UW will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (1,862 miles).
The non-conference season wraps up with a trip to College Station, Texas (1,120 mile), a drive to Austin, Texas (106 miles) and a return flight to Madison (1,222 miles).
In total, the Badgers will travel 12,614 miles while the circumference of the earth is 24,901 miles.
FRESHMEN SEE ACTION
Freshmen Molly Haggerty and Sarah Dodd saw their first action in a Badger uniform at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational.
Haggerty, a 6-1 outside hitter, averaged a team-best 4.20 kills per set while adding 2.70 digs per set. Dodd, who is serving for Lauryn Gillis, picked up her first service ace against Arizona.
    M.E. Dodge is recovering from a knee injury while Mallory Dixon has not played.
    The duo are part of the 13th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according the PrepVolleyball.com.
    It is the 11th time in the 14 years of the ranking that the Badgers have been in the top 30 and 10th time in the top 20. Wisconsin is the third-ranked Big Ten team, coming in behind No. 8 Minnesota and No. 12 Nebraska. Five other conference teams are ranked in the top 30—No. 14 Michigan, No. 16 Maryland, No. 22 Illinois, No. 23 Ohio State, and No. 29 Indiana.
CARLINI, BATES LEAD BIG TEN
Senior Lauren Carlini leads the Big Ten with 13.30 assists per set while junior Kelli Bates leads the league with 5.40 digs per set. As a junior, Carlini led the conference with 11.92 assists per set. Â
She put up a season-high 58 helpers against Hawaii on Aug. 26. Carlini also ranks second on the team and ties for 15th in the Big Ten with 3.0 digs per set. The setter leads the Badgers and ties for 15th in the conference with 0.40 service aces per set.
    Bates is in her first year as the Badgers' libero and has recorded double-figure digs in all three matches, including two 20-plus dig matches.
    Freshman Molly Haggerty ranks third with 4.20 kills per set while sophomore Tionna Williams is eighth with 1.50 blocks per set. Senior Haleigh Nelson is 10th with a .424 hitting percentage.
    As a team, Wisconsin ranks first in digs per set (17.80), second in kills per set (15.80), second in assists per set (14.70), and fifth in blocks per set (2.60). All Big Ten Statistics
BALANCED OFFENSIVE POWER
UW has a very balanced offense for the second straight year with five hitters averaging 2.0-or-more kills per set.
Freshman Molly Haggerty leads the team with 4.20 kills per set while junior Lauryn Gillis adds 3.40 kills per set. Senior Haleigh Nelson chips in 3.10 kills per set while sophomore Tionna Williams contributes 2.40 kills per set. Senior Romana Krišková adds 2.0 kills per set.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
The Badgers have one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season, playing 20 matches against teams ranked or receiving votes in this week's AVCA Top 25 coaches' poll.
In 2015, Wisconsin was 8-5 against top-25 teams this season, tying for the fifth-most wins over ranked teams in program history. Wisconsin defeated a school record 12 ranked teams in 1998.
DOUBLING DOWN
Senior Lauren Carlini and freshman Molly Haggerty both recorded double-doubles opening weekend. Carlini had 34 assists and 13 digs vs. Arizona on Aug. 27 while putting up 41 assists and 10 digs against Kansas State on Aug. 28.
She has 58 double-doubles in her career which ranks second on the UW record list. Carlini needs just four more double-doubles to move into first. Former All-American setter Laura Abbinante (1993-96) had 61 double-doubles.
    Haggerty picked up her first double-double with career highs of 19 kills and 16 digs at Hawai'i on Aug. 26.
CAREER HIGHS SET
Three Badgers recorded personal bests at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational.
- In her first match at libero, junior Kelli Bates recorded a personal best 22 digs at Hawai'i. She also tied her career high with two service aces against Arizona.
- Sophomore Tionna Williams tied her career best of three digs against the Rainbow Wahine.
- Senior Haleigh Nelson had a career-high seven digs at Hawai'i.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
#18 San Diego Toreros
The Toreros opened the season 1-1, upsetting No. 11 Stanford, 3-2, at the Cardinal's home tournament. USD also fell to No. 3 Minnesota, 3-1.
   San Diego has a very balanced offense with five players averaging 2.6-or-more kills per set. Sophomore Lauren Fuller, a 6-3 outside hitter, leads the team with 3.33 kills per set. Freshman Thana Fayad, a 6-2 outside hitter, and junior Kaity Edwards, a 6-2 middle blocker, both add 2.78 kills per set. Senior Lauren Schad, a 6-2 middle blocker, and junior Kennedy Jayden, a 6-2 opposite, each chip in 2.67 kills per set.
   The Toreros run a 6-2 offense with junior Kristen Gengenbacher putting up 7.56 assists per set and freshman Anna Newsome ading 4.71 assists per set.
   Gengenbacher leads the team with 3.89 digs pe rset while senior Hunter Jennings, a 5-5 libero, adds 3.11 digs per set. Sophomore Addie Picha, a 6-2 middle blocker, has a team-best 1.14 blocks per set.
vs. San Diego
Wisconsin leads 3-0
In Madison: Wisconsin leads 1-0
In San Diego: Wisconsin leads 1-0
Neutral: Wisconsin leads 1-0
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 2-1 after opening the season at the Baylor Invitational. The Islanders picked up wins against Prairie View A&M (3-0) and Texas Rio Grand Valley (3-2) while falling in four sets to Baylor.
   The matchup with No. 2 Wisconsin will mark the highest-ranked opponent the Islanders have faced in program history. The weekend is also the first time the Islanders will face back-to-back ranked foes. San Diego and Wisconsin are both first time foes for the Islanders. It is also just the second time the Islanders have faced a Big Ten squad, falling 3-1 to Northwestern last season.
   Outside hitter Brittany Gilpin was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her opening weekend performance. The 5-10 outside hitter/middle blocker led the Islanders with 37 kills on the weekend. She hit .243 and averaged 3.36 kills per set in the tournament. She set career highs with 20 kills and 16 digs versus UTRGV. Gilpin also averaged 2.91 digs and 0.82 blocks per set.
   Following the success of 2015, expectations are high for the Islanders in 2016. The Blue and Green return five starters from that Southland Conference Championship squad, including the Setter and Libero of the Year in the SLC.
   All five of the returning starters were named to the Preseason All-Southland Conference teams with Kristyn Nicholson, Kate Klepetka and Brittany Gilpin on the first team and Madeleine Doud and Morgan Carlson on the second team.
vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi
First meeting.
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Players Mentioned
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