Volleyball improves to 2-0 in spring play

Badgers edge Creighton in five sets

Volleyball April 09, 2017

Volleyball improves to 2-0 in spring play

Badgers edge Creighton in five sets

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – It took extra points in two sets, but the Wisconsin volleyball team improved to 2-0 this spring season with a five-set win over Creighton at Cornell College on Sunday afternoon. The Badgers edged the Bluejays 20-25, 28-26, 26-28, 25-18, 16-14.

"It was a lot of volleyball today where the scores were very close," said head coach Kelly Sheffield. "Learning to execute and playing in those types of environments is very good for our team. The score was tight in all five sets and I got different line-ups in.

"I thought there were some things we did better than last week and that was good."

All 10 players saw action in the five-set match with several switching position during the match.

"There were a lot of people who got a lot of opportunity to play against a really good team," added Sheffield. "It was a really good experience for us.

"We have eight players on this team who have never been through a spring. You try to give people opportunities and see what they can do. You give them different looks whether it's serving specialist or on the left or the right. See where they're at then get back and watch some film and try to get better."

Senior-to-be Lauryn Gillis led the Badgers with 23 kills while fellow senior-to-be Kelli Bates added 12 kills. Freshman Dana Rettke added 11 kills for the UW offense as Wisconsin hit .333 (65 kills – 17 errors – 144 total attempts) as a team. The Bluejays hit .299 (71-24-157).

"I thought we got a little bit better as the match went on," Sheffield said. "That's what you like to see. Defensively we got better as the match went on. I thought our passing got a little bit better too as the match went on."

Creighton, which finished the 2016 season at 29-7 and ranked ninth in the final national coaches' poll, outdug the Badgers 52-49 and both teams had eight blocks.

Bates, who started the match at libero but switched to outside hitter in the second set, led UW with 16 digs. M.E. Dodge added 14 saves.

Rettke led Wisconsin with six blocks while fellow freshman Sydney Hilley added five stuffs. Hilley started at setter, putting up more than 50 assists. She also added three kills in the third set as the Badgers switched to a 6-2 offense. Hilley was one of two Badgers to record a service ace in the match, joining Bates.

UW led 13-9 in the first set before Creighton went on a 7-2 run to lead 16-15. The Badgers knotted the score at 16 off a kill by Rettke but the 'Jays pulled away late to take the first set.

Creighton led 20-15 in the second set before Gillis had three kills and teamed with Rettke on a block to key a 6-1 run to tie the set at 21. Wisconsin held off one set point by the Bluejays and Creighton stopped two Badger set points before back-to-back kills from Bates and Gillis tied the match.

Wisconsin had the lead in the third set before Creighton rallied to force extra points. UW was up 24-21 before the Bluejays had a 4-0 run to serve for set point at 25-24. A kill by Rettke followed by a block from Rettke and Bates put the Badgers up 26-25 but Creighton scored three straight to take the period.

The Badgers led from start to finish in the fourth set, forcing a decisive fifth set.

In the fifth period. Creighton led 8-7 before Wisconsin went on a 4-0 run to take an 11-8 lead. Gillis had two kills and Hilley had two blocks during the rally. The Bluejays came back to tie the set at 14 before two straight errors by Creighton – one service error and one hitting error – gave Wisconsin the match.

"The hospitality and the people here were great," said Sheffield. "It was a great crowd and really close volleyball. You really couldn't have asked for anything more. It was a good learning opportunity for our team."

Wisconsin returns to the UW Field House next Saturday, hosting Green Bay in its only home match of the spring season. First serve is at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free.

"So many fans have hit the road for us the past two weekends, it's been really, really cool," said Sheffield. "Next weekend, some of our players will get their first opportunity to play in front of a crowd in the Field House."

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Players Mentioned

#4 Kelli Bates: OH; 5' 11"; Junior; Bradley, Ill.

#3 Lauryn Gillis: OH; 6' 1"; Junior; New Castle, Ind.

#19 M.E. Dodge: L/DS; 5' 10"; Freshman; East Troy, Wis.

#16 Dana Rettke: MB; 6' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#4 Kelli Bates
: 5' 11"; Junior; Bradley, Ill.
: OH

#3 Lauryn Gillis
: 6' 1"; Junior; New Castle, Ind.
: OH

#19 M.E. Dodge
: 5' 10"; Freshman; East Troy, Wis.
: L/DS

#16 Dana Rettke
: 6' 8"; Freshman
: MB

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