WISCONSIN OPEN BIG TEN SEASON AT HOME
No. 5 Wisconsin (9-0, 0-0) opens the Big Ten season at home this weekend, hosting Michigan State (7-2, 0-0) and No. 20 Michigan (10-2, 0-0). The Badgers and Spartans serve off at 7 p.m. on Friday in the 26th annual Steve Lowe Night.  UW hosts Michigan on Sunday live on ESPN at 2 p.m.

Wisconsin is 21-14 in Big Ten Conference openers, including a 13-6 mark at home. UW swept Ohio State in its 2016 opener.
 

Match 10 | MICHIGAN STATE  Date  Friday, Sept. 22 | 7 p.m.  Location  UW Field House | Madison, Wis.  Mobile App  Badger Gameday  Video  BTN2Go  Live Stats  UWBadgers.com  Radio  100.9 FM or iHeartRadio app  Social Media  @BadgerVB | Facebook | Instagram  Match Notes  Wisconsin | Michigan State  Parking  Lot 17 - $5

Match 11 | #20 MICHIGAN  Date  Sunday, Sept. 24 | 2 p.m.  Location  UW Field House | Madison, Wis.  Mobile App  Badger Gameday  TV  ESPN or Watch ESPN  Live Stats  UWBadgers.com  Radio  100.9 FM or iHeartRadio app  Social Media  @BadgerVB | Facebook | Instagram  Parking  Lot 17 - $5  Match Notes  Wisconsin | Michigan

NEED TO KNOW

• For the first time since 2010, Wisconsin wrapped up the non-conference season with an undefeated record. UW won its own Badger Classic with a 3-1 win over Marquette and a 3-0 win of Southern Miss.
• The Badgers' 9-0 mark ties for the fourth best start in program history.
• Wisconsin lost its first set of the season, falling to Marquette 25-19 in the first set on Thursday. The loss snapped the Badgers' 21-set winning streak, which ranks as the sixth-longest in program history. 
• Wisconsin held Southern Miss to just 29 points (25-8, 25-20, 25-11) in the match on Saturday, which is the second-fewest points UW has given up in a three-set match under 25-point rally scoring.
• The Badgers continue their impressive blocking on the season, averaging 3.29 blocks per set on the weekend. UW upped its season average to 3.21 blocks per set, which ranks second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally.
• Senior Lauryn Gillis returned to the Badgers' starting lineup on the weekend. The 6-1 outside hitter averaged 3.29 kills per set in two matches, recording 10-plus kills in both contests. She also added 0.43 blocks per set, recording one block solo. 
• Sophomore M.E. Dodge had a career-high 21 digs vs. Marquette last Thursday. She also had a match-high nine saves vs. Southern Miss on Saturday to average 4.29 digs per set on the  weekend. The 5-10 libero moved up to 11th in the Big Ten with 3.60 digs per set.
• All 10 home Big Ten matches for the 2017 season are already sold out. The Badgers have sold out all but one match this season and are on track to break last year's attendance record of 5,927 spectators per match.
   

VIDEOS TO WATCH
Driven - Season 3 | Episode 4
Sheffield Weekly Press Conference
Badgers finish off non-conference season with a bang
Badgers keep winning streak alive against Marquette
Ask the Badgers: Roommates worst habit

WISCONSIN OPENS SEASON 9-0
UW opened the season 9-0 after winning its own Badger Classic in the Field House last weekend. Wisconsin downed Marquette 3-1 on Thursday before sweeping Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
 

Best Season Opening
1. 2010	11-0
2. 1996	10-0
1994	10-0
4. 2017	9-0
2014	9-0
1997	9-0
1976	9-0

BADGERS REMAIN FIFTH
UW remains fifth in this week's AVCA Top-25 Coaches' Poll. The Badgers have been ranked in the national poll for 48 consecutive weeks, including 25 straight weeks in the top 10.

The top five remains the same as last week with Minnesota (11-0) in the top spot for the third straight week. Penn State (10-0), Florida (7-0), Stanford (7-2) and the Badgers (9-0) round out the top five.

The Big Ten has six teams in the top 25. In addition to Minnesota, Penn State and Wisconsin, Purdue (10-1) moves up two places to 13th while Nebraska (7-3) falls four spots to 14th. Michigan (10-2) improves to 20th while Michigan State and Ohio State drop out of the poll. AVCA Poll

BADGERS DROP FIRST SET
Wisconsin lost its first set of the season, falling to Marquette 25-19 in the first set on Thursday. The loss snapped the Badgers' 21-set winning streak, which ranks as the sixth-longest in program history.  

HOLDING DOWN OPPONENTS
Wisconsin held Southern Miss to just 29 points (25-8, 25-20, 25-11) in Saturday's match, which is the second-fewest points UW has given up in a three-set match under 25-point rally scoring. The UW record is 28 points at Rutgers on Nov. 5, 2016. The Badgers downed the Scarlet Knights 25-6, 25-11, 25-11.

HOLDING DOWN OPPONENTS II
On the season, opponents have scored 20-or-more points in a set only 10 times. The Badgers have lost only one set this season and have been pushed to extra points in only three sets, including the fourth set vs. Marquette on Thursday.  

NO STOPPING THE BADGERS
Southern Miss failed to score a service ace or a block against the Badgers on Saturday night. It marked the first time this season that UW has not been aced, and the first time since Sept. 4, 2016 vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi that the Badgers have not been blocked.

Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in service aces by opponent, allowing only 0.64 aces per set, while ranking fourth in blocks by opponent at 1.57.

BADGER BLOCK
The Badgers continue their impressive blocking, averaging 3.29 blocks per set on the weekend, upping their season average to 3.21 blocks per set, which ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally.

Freshmen Dana Rettke totaled 12 blocks on the weekend to average 1.71 blocks per set. Freshman Nicole Shanahan earned her first two starts of her career and recorded 10 blocks, averaging 1.43 per set. Freshman Sydney Hilley averaged 1.14 blocks per set while freshman Grace Loberg played in only two sets but had two blocks in both games to average 2.00 per set.  

On the season, Wisconsin is the only Big Ten school with three blockers in the top 15 of the conference rankings. Junior Tionna Williams and Rettke are tied for third with 1.57 blocks per set while redshirt sophomore Madison Duello ranks 14th with 1.15 blocks per set.

BADGER BLOCK II
Wisconsin has outblocked all but one opponent this season, more than doubling up their foes on the season. The Badgers have 90 blocks this season while giving up 44 stops. UW is averaging 3.21 blocks per set while opponents are averaging only 1.57 blocks per set.

UW has 10-or-more blocks in the last six matches, averaging 3.73 blocks per set over the stretch.

HITTING CONNECTION
The Badgers hit a season best .461 (40-5-76) vs. Southern Miss on Saturday, the fourth time this season they have hit .400 or better. Wisconsin has hit over .300 in six matches this year to average .347, which ranks third in the Big Ten and third nationally.

Individually freshman Dana Rettke leads the team at .479 (93-15-163) while junior Tionna Williams is second at .475. Freshman Sydney Hilley connects on .442 percent of her attacks.

WELCOME BACK GILLY
Senior Lauryn Gillis returned to the Badgers' starting lineup on the weekend. The 6-1 outside hitter averaged 3.29 kills per set in two matches, recording 10-plus kills in both contests. She also added 0.43 blocks per set, recording one block solo.

Gillis, who missed the first five matches of the season with an ankle injury, had 12 kills vs. Marquette, including six putaways in the fourth set. She also added a match-high 11 kills vs. Southern Miss.  On the season, Gillis has played in 11 sets. She ranks third on the team with 2.91 kills per set.

CONNECTING ON OFFENSE
As a team, UW recorded a season best hitting percentage of .461 (40 kills - 5 errors - 76 attempts) against Southern Miss on Saturday. The Badgers had no errors until late in the second set. The percentage ties for second on the UW three-set match record list under 25-point rally scoring. It is the highest team hitting percentage since the Badgers hit .456 (46-5-90) vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Sept. 4, 2016.  

BALANCED OFFENSE
The Badgers have six players that average 2.0 or more kills per set on the season.

Freshman Dana Rettke leads the team and ranks 11th in the Big Ten with 3.32 kills per set. Senior Kelli Bates is close behind, raking 13th in conference with 3.25 kills per set. Senior Lauryn Gillis has returned after missing the first five matches of the season to average 2.91 kills per set. Junior Tionna Williams adds 2.71 kills per set while sophomore Madison Duello adds 2.33 kills per set. Freshman Grace Loberg comes off the bench to add 2.06 kills per set.

THREE DOUBLE-DOUBLES ON THE SEASON
Senior Kelli Bates earned her second double-double of the season against Marquette, tallying 17 kills and 10 digs. It is the 24th double-double of her career. The 5-11 outside hitter also had 11 kills and 10 digs vs. K-State on Sept. 2.

Freshman Sydney Hilley also has a double-double this season, tallying a career-high 43 assists and 11 digs vs. North Carolina on Aug. 28.

BIG TEN LEADERS
Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in assists per set (13.79) and service aces by opponent (0.64).

Freshman Dana Rettke ranks third in hitting percentage at .379 and tied for third in blocks per set at 1.57. She is also 11th in kills per set at 3.32. Junior Tionna Williams ties for third in blocks per set (1.57) and fifth in hitting percentage (.475). Freshman Sydney Hilley is third in assists per set with 12.07. She also ties for 14th with 0.32 service aces per set. Sophomore Madison Duello is 14th with 1.15 blocks per set. Sophomore M.E. Dodge ranks 11th in digs per set with 3.60.  Big Ten Statistics

IN THE NCAA STATS
In the NCAA stats through Sept. 17, Wisconsin is one of only seven teams that are undefeated nationally.

The Badgers third in hitting percentage (.347), fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.114) and sixth in blocks per set (3.21). UW also ranks ninth in assists per set (13.79) and 13th in kills per set (14.50).

Freshman Sydney Hilley ranks fifth in assists per set (12.07) while freshman Dana Rettke is fifth in hitting percentage (.479) and 12th in blocks per set (1.57). Junior Tionna Williams is eighth in hitting percentage (.483) and 12th in blocks per set (1.57). NCAA Statistics

PERSONAL BESTS SET
Eight Badgers tied or set career bests at the Badger Classic last weekend.

• Sophomore Sarah Dodd recorded a career-high three service aces vs. Marquette.
• Setter Sydney Hilley had a career-high five kills against MU.
• In her first career start, freshman middle blocker Nicole Shanahan had a career-high six blocks and two kills against Marquette. She also had two kills against Southern Miss. 
• Sophomore libero M.E. Dodge had a career-high 21 digs against Marquette.
• Leading the team against Marquette with a career-high seven blocks was freshman Dana Rettke.
• Redshirt sophomore Madison Duello set two career highs with four digs and 26 attack attempts against MU.
• Freshman Grace Loberg had a career-high four blocks vs. Southern Miss.
• Sophomore Mallory Dixon tied her career best with one service ace against USM.
   

CHANGING STARTERS
The Badgers have used four different starting lineups this season. Only senior Kelli Bates and freshmen Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke have started all nine matches.

Senior Lauryn Gillis has returned to the starting lineup after missing the first five matches of the season due to an ankle injury. The 6-1 outside hitter returned to action at the HotelRED Invitational, playing in two sets against Lipscomb and Texas A&M. Junior Tionna Williams did not play at the Badger Classic after violating team rules.

SHEFFIELD CLOSING IN ON 400 WINS
Head coach Kelly Sheffield is only five wins away from 400 victories for his career. He is 395-137 (.742) in 16 years as a head coach. Sheffield is 122-25 (.830) in his fifth year at Wisconsin. He was also 131-33 (.799) in five years at Dayton and 142-79 (.643) in seven years at Albany.

I GOT THAT!
Three Badgers surpassed career milestones on the weekend.

• Sophomore M.E. Dodge went over 300 digs against Marquette on Thursday. She has 328 saves in her second season.
• Redshirt sophomore Madison Duello played in her 100th set against Marquette. She has played in 105 games in her career.
• Senior Lauryn Gillis picked up her 100th career block against Southern Miss.

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

• Senior Kelli Bates is only 17 sets away from 400 games in her fourth season. She is also 13 kills away from 900 for her career.
• Sophomore Sarah Dodd will reach 100 digs with 14 saves.
• Redshirt sophomore Madison Duello needs just 10 kills for 100 in her second season.
• Senior Lauryn Gillis will also play in her 300th career set in five games.
• Sophomore Molly Haggerty will reach 400 kills in 15 putaways. She also need 24 digs for 300 career saves.
• Freshman Dana Rettke is only seven kills away from 100 in her first season.
• Junior Tionna Williams is counting down to 600 career kills, needing 20 putaways.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Michigan State
The Spartans finished the non-conference season 7-2. Most recently they went 2-1 at the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational, dropping their first match to Notre Dame, 3-0, before sweeping Central Michigan and Southern Illinois.

Senior outside hitter Holly Toliver paces the MSU offense, earning 3.07 kills per set while adding an additional 1.89 digs per set. Behind the service line, Toliver ranks second on the team with 0.48 service aces per set. Alyssa Garvelink, a 6-4 middle blocker, averages a team-high 1.89 blocks per set. The senior is hitting .391 (78 kills - 19 errors - 151 attempts) and averages 2.79 kills per set. Senior Abby Monson leads the Spartans with 4.29 digs per set. Six-rotation player Autum Bailey adds another 3.48 digs per set and also averages 2.85 kills per set. The Spartans use two setters to run their offense. Rachel Minarick, a 6-2 senior, puts up 10.00 assists per set while Maggie Midgett, a 5-10 sophomore, averages 8.50 assists per set.

Redshirt junior Maddie Haggerty, sister of Wisconsin's Molly Haggerty, is an outside hitter for Michigan State.
   
vs. Michigan State
Wisconsin leads 48-26-1
In Madison: Wisconsin leads 27-7
Last meeting: The Badgers swept Michigan State, 3-0, at home on November 16, 2016.

Michigan
Michigan enters Big Ten play with a record of 10-2. This past weekend the Wolverines swept NC State, Milwaukee and Cincinnati to with the Michigan Challenge. Michigan's losses this season came against USC, 3-1, and No. 25 Colorado State, 3-0.

Junior Carly Skjodt, a 6-1 outside hitter, puts down a team-high 3.23 kills per set while adding 2.49 digs per set. She is the reigning Co-Big Ten Player of the Week. Libero Jenna Lerg digs out a team-high 4.03 saves per set. Cori Crocker, a 6-3 middle blocker, collects a team-high 1.18 blocks per set. The redshirt sophomore is hitting .382 (82-19-165) which ranks second for Michigan. Setters MacKenzi Welsh and Maddy Abbott average 10.81 and 7.13 assists per set, respectively, while running the U-M offense.  

vs. Michigan
Wisconsin leads 55-19
In Madison: Wisconsin leads 31-4
Last meeting: Wisconsin beat Michigan, 3-1, in the UW Field House on November 18, 2016.