CLEMSON, S.C. – There were three things that the ninth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team was looking to do on Saturday in its final match of the Clemson Invitational – serve, pass and defend.
The Badgers (4-2) did all three things well to pick up a 25-19, 25-16, 25-20 win over Clemson on Saturday afternoon. The win gave Wisconsin a 2-0 record on the weekend and the team title of the Clemson Invitational
Wisconsin scored on five service aces against the Tigers (5-4), who were held scoreless from the service line. Clemson entered the match averaging more than 2.0 service aces per set. Junior
Dana Rettke and freshman
Izzy Ashburn both recorded two aces in the match.
Behind 11 digs from
Sydney Hilley and 10 saves from
Tiffany Clark, UW finished with a 42-37 advantage in digs. The Badgers also outblocked Clemson 6-4.
That defense held the Tigers to a .196 (39 kills – 18 errors – 107 attempts) team hitting percentage while Wisconsin hit .343 (46-11-102).
The Badgers had three players record 10-or-more kills behind a match-high 14 kills from Clemson Invitational MVP Rettke. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker hit and impressive .609 (14-0-23) while adding a team-best four blocks.
Molly Haggerty, who was named to the all-tournament team along with Ashburn, added 12 kills while
Grace Loberg put away 10 attacks offensively.
Hilley put up 35 assists, running the Badger offense, recording her second double-double of the season with her 11 digs.
Straight from the court
"I thought both teams were playing really hard in the backcourt. I loved our effort in the backcourt, pursuing balls, fighting to keep the ball off the floor. I thought our defensive intensity was really good. That was an emphasis coming in – serve, pass and defend. I thought in those three areas we did a good job.
"I thought there were some good learning things that were happening this weekend. The competition quite what we saw last weekend but I liked the effort, especially today. Our effort today was really strong."
Notes
- Juniors Dana Rettke and Molly Haggerty as well as freshman Izzy Ashburn were named to the Clemson Invitational All-Tournament team with Rettke earning MVP honors.
- Freshman Izzy Ashburn earned her first start as a Badger, opening on the right side and putting away two kills while adding seven digs, five assists, two service aces and one block
- Junior Dana Rettke led all hitters with 14 kills, her sixth-straight match with 10-or-more kills this season.
- Junior Sydney Hilley picked up her second double-double of the season and the 26th of her career with 35 assists and 11 digs.
Up Next
Wisconsin wraps up the non-conference season with a home-and-home series against No. 12 Washington. The Badgers face the Huskies in the UW Field House on Thursday at 8 p.m. live on FoxSports 1. Wisconsin then travels to Seattle where it will take on Washington on Saturday at 8 p.m. CT from Alaska Airlines Arena live on the Pac-12 Networks.
