Seniors shine as Badgers dethrone Scarlet Knights

Saturday, November 25

7 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

20-9, 11-9

Rutgers

5-27, 0-20

Rutgers

Wisconsin

Photo by: Greg Anderson

Seniors shine as Badgers dethrone Scarlet Knights

November 25, 2017 | Volleyball

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UW sweeps Rutgers in Big Ten finale

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. – Seniors Lauryn Gillis and Kelli Bates led the 11th-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team in a sweep of Rutgers in the final match of the 2017 regular season. The Badgers won 25-15, 25-8, 25-13 at the UW Field House Saturday night.

Gillis recorded a double-double thanks to a match-high 11 kills and 10 digs. Bates notched nine digs and seven kills in the UW win. Sophomore Madison Duello chipped in eight kills for the Badger offense.

Wisconsin (20-9 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) hit .385 (40 kills – 10 errors – 78 attempts) on the night while holding Rutgers (5-27, 0-20) to negative .012 (20-21-84).

Freshman Sydney Hilley recorded a career-high five service aces to help UW out ace RU, 8-0.

At the net, the Badgers out blocked the Scarlet Knights, 8-6. Freshman Dana Rettke lead the way with five stuffs.

Notable

Wisconsin records its fifth-straight 20-win season.
Senior Lauryn Gillis led all hitters with 11 kills and .500 hitting percentage (11K – 1E – 20TA). She also added 10 digs for her second double-double of the season and the ninth of her career.
Freshman Sydney Hilley recorded a career-high five service aces, including three in a span of six points in the second set.
UW's eight service aces are the second most in a match this year.

Lots of love for our seniors ?? pic.twitter.com/4O96Ytiw1u
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) November 26, 2017

Quotable

"I liked the fact that we handled our emotions on Senior Night. You always want that. Like we said, the best gift you can give the seniors is not to stay up all night making scrapbooks—or whatever it is that people do—it's to be ready to play. And to make sure that there is great energy and great vibes as you're walking off the court. Not to end things with a loss, or just playing crummy, you're happy that you went off on a high note."

-Head Coach Kelly Sheffield

"I was very emotional, but that's how I expected it to be. The Field House fans are absolutely unbelievable in terms of their support for you, and their support for seniors especially—they truly appreciate what you've done for the program. And that means so much, especially after watching all of the other seniors go through the same thing."

-Senior Kelli Bates

It was over when

After winning the first set 25-15, the Badgers came out swinging in the second set to take an early lead. After allowing Rutgers to score the first point of the set, UW went on a 10-0 scoring run, the longest scoring run of the match. Sydney Hilley served three aces and Dana Rettke put down three kills during the stretch to give the Badgers a 10-1 advantage.

Up next

The 64-team bracket for the 2017 NCAA Tournament will be announced Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPNU. The Badgers are looking for their fifth straight and 19th overall tournament appearance.