M.E. Dodge passes the ball vs. Indiana
Tom Lynn

Volleyball

Five things to know: Rutgers and Penn State

Big test awaits Badgers in season finale

Volleyball

Five things to know: Rutgers and Penn State

Big test awaits Badgers in season finale

Wisconsin

20-6, 13-5

Rutgers

6-25, 0-18

Game Coverage

Friday, Nov. 23 | College Avenue Gym | New Brunswick, N.J.

Wisconsin

20-6, 13-5

Penn State

22-6, 13-5

Game Coverage

Saturday,  Nov. 24 | Rec Hall | University Park, Pa.


MADISON, Wis. – Four-straight wins will propel the eighth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team into its final week of the regular season. The Badgers conclude Big Ten Conference play this weekend on the road with trips to Rutgers and Penn State. Friday's 1 p.m. (CT) matinee at Rutgers will be followed by a 6 p.m. match against No. 7 Penn State on Saturday.
 
1. B1G TIME: Sophomore setter Sydney Hilley followed up last week's Big Ten Setter of the Week honors with Big Ten Player and Setter of the Week accolades this week. The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native has tallied double-doubles in her last four matches and leads the Big Ten with 11.95 assists per set. Last weekend, Hilley averaged 14.83 assists and 3.67 digs per set.
 
2. WINNING WAYS: UW picked up its 20th win of the season after sweeping Ohio State and Maryland last weekend. It marks the sixth-straight season that the Badgers have won 20 or more matches.
 
3. DUELLO DOES IT: Junior Madison Duello led the Badgers with 13 kills at Maryland on Saturday, recording her 500th career kill.  
 
4. SELECTION SUNDAY: The 64-team bracket for the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship will be announced on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. The Badgers are 43-21 in 21 years of the tournament and are looking for their sixth straight appearance.
 
5. SCOUTING RUTGERS: The Scarlet Knights are 6-25 overall this season and 0-18 in conference play. In their first meeting of the season, the Badgers swept Rutgers, 3-0. The Scarlet Knights rank third in the Big Ten with 2.70 blocks per set, led by middle blocker Stasa Miljevic. Senior outside hitter Sahbria McLetchie averages a team-high 2.99 kills per set while libero Karysa Swackenberg paces the defense with 3.13 digs per set.
 
SCOUTING PENN STATE: A key final weekend awaits the Nittany Lions as they host No. 3 Minnesota on Friday before playing the Badgers on Saturday. PSU is 22-6 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten this season. Penn State leads the conference with 2.89 blocks per set led by freshman middle blocker Serena Gray. Fellow middle blocker Kaitlyn Hord ranks fourth in the conference with a .387 hitting percentage. In the backcourt, junior libero Kendall White is third among Big Ten players with 4.74 digs per set.
 
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Players Mentioned

Madison Duello

#14 Madison Duello

OH
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Kansas City, Mo.
Sydney Hilley

#2 Sydney Hilley

S
6' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Madison Duello

#14 Madison Duello

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Kansas City, Mo.
OH
Sydney Hilley

#2 Sydney Hilley

6' 0"
Sophomore
S