This week in Badger Volleyball: Nov. 27-Dec. 3

BADGERS OPEN NCAA PLAY
Wisconsin makes its 21st NCAA tournament appearance, traveling to Ames, Iowa, for the first and second rounds of the 2017 championship. The Badgers (20-9) face Marquette (22-9) in the first round on Friday at 4 p.m. from Hilton Coliseum. No. 14-seed Iowa State (21-6) faces Princeton (18-7) in the other first-round match at 7 p.m. on Friday. First-round winners play in the second round on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. for the right to advance to regional play.

The Badgers are 41-20 in 20 years of NCAA tournament play. Wisconsin has made four-straight appearances in the post-season classic, advancing to at least the Sweet 16. UW is 12-4 under head coach Kelly Sheffield in NCAA tournament play.

WATCH PARTY AT THE SETT
Join other Badger fans in watching the NCAA matches at The Sett in Union South on Friday.

Match 30 \| MARQUETTE
Date	Friday, Dec. 1 \| 4 p.m.
Location	Hilton Coliseum \| Ames, Iowa
Mobile App	Badger Gameday
Video	Cyclones TV
Live Stats	UWBadgers.com
Radio	100.9 FM or iHeartRadio app
Social Media	@BadgerVB \| Facebook \| Instagram
Match Notes	Wisconsin \| Marquette

Match 31 \| IOWA STATE
Date	Saturday, Dec. 2 \| 6:30 p.m.
Location	Hilton Coliseum \| Ames, Iowa
Mobile App	Badger Gameday
Video	C yclones TV
Live Stats	UWBadgers.com
Radio	100.9 FM or iHeartRadio app
Social Media	@BadgerVB \| Facebook \| Instagram
Match Notes	Wisconsin \| Iowa State

AT THE NET

Dana Rettke was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming the fifth Badger to earn the honor. The 6-8 middle blocker was also a unanimous pick to the All-Big Ten team, joining Tionna Williams on the honor squad. Rettke and Sydney Hilley were named to the All-Freshman team.
The Badgers wrapped up the Big Ten season, splitting its last two home matches. Wisconsin fell to No. 1 Penn State, 3-1, on Friday before sweeping Rutgers. UW finishes the conference season 11-9, tying for seventh, its lowest finish since finishing ninth in 2012.
Wisconsin has won 20-matches for the fifth straight season and for the 29th time in the 44-year history of the program.
Freshman Dana Rettke set seven school records in Big Ten play under 25-point rally scoring. The middle blocker set conference-only records for kills (254), kills per set (3.39), hitting percentage (.433), block assists (94), total blocks (102), points (328.0) and points per set (4.37).
Two Badgers earned double-doubles on the weekend, upping the team total to 21 this season. Senior Kelli Bates recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 12 digs vs. Penn State on Friday. It was her 30th career double-double, which ranks 10th on the UW all-time list. Senior Lauryn Gillis had 11 kills and 10 digs against Rutgers 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 vs. Rutgers on Saturday. UW's eight service aces against the Scarlet Knights was the second most in a match this year.

BIG TEN SEASON COMPLETE
The Badgers wrapped up Big Ten season, splitting its last two home matches. Wisconsin fell to No. 1 Penn State, 3-1, on Friday before sweeping Rutgers. UW finishes the conference season 11-9, tying for seventh, its lowest finish since finishing ninth in 2012.

BADGERS REMAIN 11TH
Wisconsin remains 11th in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches' Poll released Nov. 27. The Badgers have been ranked in the national poll for 58 consecutive weeks.

The top five remain the same as last week with Penn State (29-1) and Texas (24-2) ranking first and second, respectively. Florida (25-1), Stanford (26-3) and Nebraska (26-4) complete the top five.

The Big Ten has six teams in the top 25 and two teams receiving votes. In addition to Penn State and Nebraska, Minnesota (26-5) remains eighth with Wisconsin (20-9) staying at 11th. Michigan State (21-8) drops two places to 12th with Purdue (22-9) staying at 16th. Michigan and Illinois receive votes in this week's poll. AVCA Poll

WISCONSIN FALLS TO 18th IN RPI
The Badgers dropped eight places to 18th in the NCAA RPI, released Monday. The rating percentage index is used to rank teams based upon wins and losses, and strength of schedule. This system is used to aid in the selecting and seeding of teams appearing in the NCAA tournament.

Penn State (29-1) moved back into the No. 1 spot followed by Florida (25-1), Kentucky 926-3), Texas (24-2) and Stanford (26-3, respectively. The Big Ten has three teams in the top 10 and eight teams in the top 30 while the Pac-12 Conference has seven teams in the top 30. NCAA RPI

EIGHTH TOUGHEST SCHEDULE
Wisconsin has played the eighth toughest scheduled in the nation this season, according to the NCAA strength of schedule released Nov. 27. The Badgers have the second toughest schedule in the Big Ten behind No. 4 Ohio State.

Texas A&M has played the toughest schedule this season followed by Kentucky, Oregon, Ohio State and UCLA, respectively. The Big Ten has 10 teams in the top 30, including No. 12 Iowa and No. 15 Illinois.

RETTKE NAMED BIG TEN FROSH OF YEAR
Dana Rettke was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming the fifth Badger to earn the honor. The 6-8 middle blocker was also a unanimous pick to the All-Big Ten team, joining Tionna Williams on the honor squad. Rettke and Sydney Hilley were named to the All-Freshman team. On the season, Rettke leads the Badgers and ranks second in the Big Ten with a .445 hitting percentage. She also leads the team and ranks 13th in the conference with 3.37 kills per set. The freshman has a team-best 1.42 blocks per set, which ranks third in the Big Ten.

Williams, a 6-2 middle blocker, earns her second-straight, first-team All-Big Ten award. She ranks second on the Badgers and third in the Big Ten with a .396 hitting percentage. Williams is also second on the team with 1.04 blocks per set while adding 2.46 kills per set.

The Badgers landed two players on the Big Ten All-Freshman team for the fourth time since the award was begun in 1999. Rettke was a unanimous pick to the team while Hilley was also named to the seven-player honor team. The 6-0 setter ranks second in the Big Ten with 11.64 assists per set. Hilley also ranks second on the Badgers with 22 service aces while adding 2.10 digs and 0.66 blocks per set.

SERVING SYD
Freshman Sydney Hilley recorded a career-high five service aces, including three in a span of six points in the second set, vs. Rutgers on Saturday. UW's eight service aces against the Scarlet Knights was the second most in a match this year.

Hilley ranks second on the Badgers with 22 service aces (0.21/set) this season. Freshman Dana Rettke leads the team with 25 aces (0.24/set) while sophomore Madison Duello adds 20 aces (0.20/set).

IRON BADGER
Senior Kelli Bates has played in all 129 matches and all 458 sets as a Badger. The 5-11 outside hitter needs to play in 133 matches and 461 sets to make the top 10 at UW.

FABULOUS FRESHMAN
Among the nation's freshmen, Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke rank among the best.

Rettke has the top hitting percentage (.445) among the nation's freshman, according to a report by PrepVolleyball. She also ranks second in blocks per set (1.42). Hilley ranks second among rookie setters with 11.64 assists per set.

In the Big Ten, Rettke leads all freshmen in hitting percentage and blocks per set. She is also third in kills per set (3.37) and fourth in service aces per set (0.24). Hilley leads conference newcomers in assists per set while also ranking sixth in digs per set (2.10), sixth in service aces per set (0.21), and ninth in blocks per set (0.66).

RETTKE SETS SEVEN RECORDS
Freshman Dana Rettke set seven school records in Big Ten play under 25-point rally scoring. The 6-8 middle blocker set conference-only records for kills (254), kills per set (3.39), hitting percentage (.433), block assists (94), total blocks (102), points (328.0) and points per set (4.37).

Rettke is also on track to break the overall season record for hitting percentage. She is hitting .445, which would break UW's all-time season the mark of .422 set by Haleigh Nelson in 2015. The freshman is averaging 1.42 blocks per set, which would break Nelson's blocking record of 1.33 per set from 2014. Rettke is also averaging 4.39 points per set, which would crack Ellen Chapman's record of 3.96 points per set in 2013.

DOUBLE-FIGURE KILLS
Five Badgers have recorded double-figure kills in at least eight matches this season, including a team-best 21 matches for freshman Dana Rettke. The 6-8 middle blocker has led the team in kills in 15 matches.

Senior Lauryn Gillis has 10-or-more kills in 14 matches while senior Kelli Bates has hit double digits in 11 contests.

Junior Tionna Williams has double-figure kills in nine matches and sophomore Madison Duello in eight matches.

DOUBLING UP
Two Badgers earned double-doubles on the weekend, upping the team total to 21 this season.

Senior Kelli Bates recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 12 digs vs. Penn State on Friday. It was her 30th career double-double, which ranks 10th on the UW all-time list.
Senior Lauryn Gillis had 11 kills and 10 digs against Rutgers for her second double-double of the season and the ninth of her career.
Freshman Sydney Hilley has a team-best nine double-doubles this season.
Junior Tionna Williams earned her first career double-double with 10 kills and 11 blocks vs. Lipscomb on Sept. 7.
Freshman Dana Rettke had her first career double-double at Northwestern on Nov. 19 with 13 kills and a career-high 10 blocks.

BALANCED OFFENSE AND DEFENSE
The Badgers have five players that average 2.0 or more kills per set on the season. Freshman Dana Rettke leads the team with 3.37 kills per set. Senior Lauryn Gillis adds 2.69 kills per set while senior Kelli Bates chips in 2.59 kills per set. Junior Tionna Williams contributes in 2.46 kills per set. Sophomore Madison Duello adds 2.03 kills per set.

In the back row, Wisconsin has four players that averaged 2.0 or more digs per set. Sophomore Tiffany Clark has a team-best 3.79 digs per set while Bates adds 2.61 digs per set and M.E. Dodge contributes 2.23 digs per set. Freshman Sydney Hilley chips in 2.10 digs per set.

Wisconsin also has four players that average 0.60 or more blocks per set. Rettke (1.42), Williams (1.04), Madison Duello (0.89) and Hilley (0.66) lead the team.

HITTING CONNECTION
Wisconsin has hit better than 23 of 29 opponents this season, connecting on .296 percent of its attacks on the year, which ranks third in the Big Ten. That mark would set a UW season record for highest hitting percentage by a Badger team. The previous best is .289 set by the 2001 team.

The Badgers have hit better than .400 in seven matches and better than .300 in 15 matches. Wisconsin is 15-0 when it hits better than .300. UW hit a season best .461 (40-5-76) vs. Southern Miss on Sept. 16 and a season-low .158 (50K - 28E - 139TA) vs. Penn State last Friday.

IN THE NATIONAL STATS
In the NCAA stats through Nov. 25, Wisconsin ranks 11th in hitting percentage (.296), 17th in assists per set (13.43), and 28th in blocks per set (2.37). The Badgers are 36th in kills per set (13.96) and 38th in opponent hitting percentage (.169). Freshman Dana Rettke is fifth in hitting percentage (.445) and 22nd in blocks per set (1.42). Junior Tionna Williams is 19th in hitting percentage (.396). Freshman Sydney Hilley is 12th in assists per set (11.64). NCAA Statistics

PERSONAL BESTS SET
Three Badgers tied or set career bests against Rutgers last weekend.

Sophomore Mallory Dixon tied her career highs with one service ace and one dig vs. the Scarlet Knights.
Freshman Sydney Hilley had a career high five service aces against Rutgers.
Freshman Grace Loberg tied her career high with two digs against Rutgers.

I GOT THAT!
Five Badgers surpassed career milestones at Illinois or Northwestern last week.

Sophomore Madison Duello picked up 100 career blocks and 100 career digs against Rutgers.
Freshmen Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke played in their 100th set against Penn State.
Senior Lauryn Gillis picked up her 600th career dig vs. Rutgers.
Junior Tionna Williams picked up her 400th career block vs. Rutgers.

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

Senior Kelli Bates needs 37 kills for 1,100 in her career.
Sophomore Tiffany Clark will reach 300 digs at UW with four stops.
Freshman Sydney Hilley is only one assist away from 1,200 in her first season.
Junior Tionna Williams is counting down to 800 career kills, needing 41 tallies.

RECORD ATTENDANCE IN 2017
Wisconsin averaged a school record 5,980 fans per match this season, improving upon last year's mark of 5,927 fans per match. The Badgers sold out all 10 Big Ten matches to average 6,012 fans per match, besting last year's mark of 5,980. Wisconsin sold out the UW Field House for 15 of 16 matches. The Badgers sold a record 4,885 season tickets, an increase of 1,445 from last year. UW sold 2,350 reserved seats and 2,535 general admission seats.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

MARQUETTE (22-9, 15-3)
The Golden Eagles finished second in the BIG EAST behind Creighton this season and have an overall record of 22-9. They have now earned seven-straight NCAA Tournament bids. Sophomore outside hitter Allie Barber leads MU with 4.74 kills per set and a .334 hitting percentage. Junior Anna Haak and redshirt junior Jenna Rosenthal round out the Marquette offense, averaging 2.83 and 2.57 kills per set, respectively.Rosenthal leads her team at the net, averaging 1.08 blocks per set.Marquette's offense is run by setter Lauren Speckman. The sophomore puts up 11.68 assists per set. She also averages 1.85 digs per set.Libero Martha Konovodoff paces the team with 4.14 digs per set. Haak adds another 2.98 digs per set.

vs. Marquette
Wisconsin leads 18-0
Neutral: Wisconsin leads 1-0
Last meeting: On Sept. 14, the bBadgers defeated Marquette, 3-1, at the UW Field House.

IOWA STATE (20-6, 10-5)
The Cyclones finished the 2017 regular season tied for third in the Big 12 Conference. ISU is making their 12th-straight tournament appearance.Outside hitter Jess Schaben leads the Iowa State offense, earning 3.30 kills per set. She also adds 2.90 digs and 0.70 blocks per set. ISU earns an impressive 3.03 stuffs per set. Middle blockers Grace Lazard and Avery Rhodes earn an average of 1.36 and 1.21 blocks per set, respectively. In the backcourt, libero Hali Hillegas saves a team-high 5.49 balls per set with Monique Harris and Schaben chipping in another 3.08 and 3.02 digs per set. The Cyclones record 1.26 aces per set behind the service line. Hillegas averages 0.32 aces per set and Izzy Enna notches 0.31 aces per set.

vs. Iowa State
Wisconsin leads 4-2
In Ames: First meeting
Last meeting: Wisconsin swept Iowa State on Dec. 4, 2015 in the UW Field House.

PRINCETON (18-7, 10-4)
The 2017 Ivy Leauge champion Princeton Tigers are making their second-straight NCAA apperance after earning an automatic bid with their third-straight Ivy League Conference Championship. Right side Maggie O'Connell and outside hitter Natasha Skov lead the Tigers, earning 3.38 and 3.25 kills per set, respectively. Setter Jessie Harris runs Princeton's offense, averaging 10.61 assists per set. As a team the Tigers record 13.14 assists per set. Senior Libero Maddie Huber paces the backcourt with 4.09 saves per set. Three more Tigers average over two digs per set to help the team average 15.67 digs per set. The Tigers earn 1.99 blocks per set with middle blockers Caroline Sklaver and Nnenna Ibe averaging 0.90 and 0.89 stuffs per set, respectively.

vs. Princeton
First meeting

University of Wisconsin Athletics

This week in Badger Volleyball: Nov. 27-Dec. 3

Related News

Players Mentioned

Kelli Bates

Tiffany Clark

Mallory Dixon

M.E. Dodge

Madison Duello

Lauryn Gillis

Sydney Hilley

Grace Loberg

Dana Rettke

Tionna Williams

Related Videos