MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The sixth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team improved to 20-0 all-time against No. 21 Marquette Friday night as it swept the Golden Eagles in the first match of the Marquette Invitational. The Badgers won 25-23, 25-14, 25-15 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Al McGuire Center.
 
Redshirt junior Madison Duello tallied a match-high 14 kills, one off her career best, while hitting .591 (14 kills – 1 error – 22 attempts). Three other Badgers added seven-or-more kills as Grace Loberg (9), Dana Rettke (8) and Molly Haggerty (7) rounded out the balanced UW offense.
 
As a team, Wisconsin (6-1) hit .330 (43-9-103). Marquette (7-3) recorded a .118 (34-21-110) hitting percentage.
 
UW's defense shined in its sixth win of the year, with the Badgers out blocking Marquette, 9-4. Wisconsin also held the advantage in digs, 49-43. Middle blocker Dana Rettke paced Wisconsin with eight stuffs and libero Tiffany Clark recorded a team-high 12 digs.
 
Sophomore setter Sydney Hilley notched her fifth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 11 digs.
 

And that's the match! pic.twitter.com/8GOOSszPA1

— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) September 15, 2018

 

Notes to know

• The Badgers improve to 20-0 all-time against Marquette.
• Redshirt junior Madison Duello led all hitters with 14 kills, one off her career best.
• UW hit its third-best hitting percentage of the season at .330.
• Wisconsin improves to 2-1 against top-25 teams this season.
• UW recorded three-set season highs in kills (43), digs (49) and blocks (9).

 

Straight from the court

"I thought we weathered the storm. This is an exciting environment here. A lot of people were here for both sides and we knew the energy was going to be really high for Marquette. We wanted to weather the storm and we wanted to play great defense.
 
"I thought we did a great job defensively the latter part of that first set and all the way through. Offensively, they're pretty talented and I thought we were disciplined and well-coordinated with our block and with our backcourt."
 
-Head Coach Kelly Sheffield
 
"I think defensively this is the best that we've played. This was the time where we needed to play defense like that. I think that that turned around from last weekend and that's really great."
 
-Right side hitter Madison Duello
 

Up next

The Badgers wrap up their non-conference season Saturday against Illinois State. First serve at the Al McGuire Center is set for 11 a.m.