NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The eighth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team completed a season sweep of Rutgers Friday afternoon at College Avenue Gym. The Badgers defeated the Scarlet Knights in straight sets, 25-15, 25-18, 25-12, to begin their final weekend of regular season play.
 
Wisconsin (21-6 overall, 14-5 B1G) hit .302 (38 kills – 12 errors – 86 attempts) on the afternoon and held Rutgers (6-26, 0-19) to a .011 (27-26-92) hitting percentage. The match was the definition of a team effort, with 14 Badgers seeing court time and five players with five or more kills.
 
Middle blockers Dana Rettke and Tionna Williams and outside hitter Molly Haggerty each tallied eight kills for UW. Grace Loberg and Madison Duello also contributed to the balanced Badger attack with seven and five kills, respectively.
 
The Badgers dominated behind the service line, earning eight aces while not giving up an ace. Haggerty led all players with three service aces.
 
UW also recorded a 12-6 advantage at the net. Rettke and setter Sydney Hilley notched seven and five stuffs, respectively.
 
In the backcourt, libero Tiffany Clark led all players with 14 digs. Haggerty also recorded double-digit digs with 10 saves in the match.
 

🎶To the tune of 12 days of Christmas 🎶

12 Badger blocks

8 service aces

5 straight wins

Aaand one regular season match left.....#RiseAsOne // #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/Qssk3YIuka

— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) November 23, 2018

 

Notes to know

• The Badgers have won 18 straight sets, their longest set-winning streak of the season.
• Junior M.E. Dodge played in her 300th career set vs. the Scarlet Knights.
• All 14 eligible players saw action in the match.
• With her two blocks today, senior Tionna Williams moves into a tie for eighth on the UW career record list with 489 total blocks.
• For the second time this season, Wisconsin did not get aced in a match. The Badgers recorded eight service aces in the match.

 

Straight from the court

"I think a balanced attack has been a point of emphasis the past couple weeks. I feel like we're probably a little bit better when we're able to do that. I thought our hitters did a pretty good job. We showed up ready to play and I thought we did a pretty good job."
 
-Head coach Kelly Sheffield
 
"It was really good. I think we came out here business-like and just wanted to get these three sets under our belts and head over to Penn State tomorrow."
 
-Defensive specialist Sarah Dodd
 

Up next

The Badgers conclude Big Ten play tomorrow night at Penn State. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (CT) and fans can watch along on the Big Ten Network.
 
The 2018 NCAA tournament bracket will be announced on Sunday 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.