Five things to know: Badgers travel to Minnesota

Border battle between the Big Ten's best

Volleyball November 13, 2019 Drew Kocken

Five things to know: Badgers travel to Minnesota

Border battle between the Big Ten's best

No. 7 Wisconsin

17-5, 13-1

No. 5 Minnesota

19-3, 13-1

Game Coverage

Thursday, Nov. 14 | 8 p.m. | Maturi Pavillion | Minneapolis, Minn.

Watch On Big Ten Network

Follow on Twitter

Follow Live Stats

Listen on 100.9 FM

MADISON, Wis. – No. 7 Wisconsin (17-5, 13-1 B1G) wraps up its five-match road trip with its toughest challenge of the year. The Badgers take on Big Ten co-leader No. 5 Minnesota (19-3, 13-1) on Thursday at 8 p.m. from the Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis. The match airs live on the Big Ten Network. The Badgers return home for three straight matches, including hosting Michigan State (14-10, 5-9) on Saturday. First serve is at 7 p.m. from the UW Field House, streaming live on BTN+($).

1. BORDER BATTLE BRINGS OUT THE BEST: Wisconsin and Minnesota are competing in the 16th-annual Border Battle, an all-sports competition between the athletic departments of the two schools. The Badgers currently lead the 2019-20 competition 145-15. Twenty points are on the line in Thursday's match.

2. BACK TO THE GRIND: After seven straight matches against unranked teams, Wisconsin's schedule enters a tough stretch with three of its last six matches against top-10 ranked teams. In addition to playing at No. 5 Minnesota on Thursday, the Badgers host No. 6 Nebraska on Nov. 24 before traveling to No. 8 Penn State on Nov. 29. Only six matches remain in the regular season.

3. DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE: Wisconsin has held its last nine opponents under a .200 hitting percentage as Maryland hit an opponent season-low .045 percent on Saturday. Over the last nine matches, the Badgers are holding foes to a .147 hitting percentage while UW is hitting .299 percent.

4. SHARING IS CARING: The Badgers have one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the Big Ten with three players ranking in the top 12 in hitting percentage and kills in conference-only statistics. Junior Dana Rettke ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.391) and sixth in kills per set (3.60). Sophomore Danielle Hart is sixth in hitting percentage (.347) while Grace Loberg ranks ninth in kills per set (3.40) and 10th in hitting percentage (.314). Junior Molly Haggerty is 12th in kills per set (3.21).

5. SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: The Golden Gophers share the Big Ten lead with the Badgers at 13-1 and are 19-3 overall. Wisconsin handed Minnesota its only BigTen loss of the season, 3-0, on Oct. 13 in Madison. Minnesota's only other losses came early in the season, losing to Florida State, 3-0, on Aug. 31 and at No. 3 Texas, 3-0, on Sept. 4. UM has won eight in a row since losing to the Badgers. Junior Stephanie Samedy, a 6-2 opposite hitter, leads the team and ranks ninth in the Big Ten with 3.36 kills per set. She also adds 2.66 digs and 0.88 blocks per set. Senior Alexis Hart, a 6-0 outside hitter, chips in 3.11 kills per set while sophomore Adanna Rollins, a 6-0 outside hitter, adds 2.62 kills and 3.17 digs per set. Middle blockers Regan Pittman, a 6-5 redshirt junior, and Taylor Morgan, a 6-0 redshirt senior, contribute 2.34 and 2.03 kills per set, respectively. Pittman leads the Big Ten with 1.38 blocks per set while Morgan adds 1.17 blocks per set, which ranks ninth. Sophomore Bayley McMenimen, a 5-9 setter, has a team-best 7.47 assists per set. The Golden Gophers have also switched to a 6-2 offense with freshman Tamara Dolonga, a 5-8 setter, chipping in 4.79 assists per set. Sophomore CC McGraw, a 5-9 libero, has a team-best 4.20 digs per set, which ranks third in the Big Ten. She also shares the team lead with Samedy with 18 service aces.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#23 Molly Haggerty: OH; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior; Glen Ellyn, Ill.

#18 Danielle Hart: MB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#21 Grace Loberg: OH; 6' 3"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

#23 Molly Haggerty
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior; Glen Ellyn, Ill.
: OH

#18 Danielle Hart
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: MB

#21 Grace Loberg
: 6' 3"; Junior
: OH

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

Sticky Bar