Serving Up Six: Badgers back at home

Friday, November 12

UW Field House, Madison, Wis.

7 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

Purdue

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Badger volleyball team celebrates after a point at Nebraska, Oct. 27

Photo by: Bianca Miceli

Serving Up Six: Badgers back at home

November 09, 2021 | Volleyball

Wisconsin faces No. 9 Purdue, Northwestern

By: Annalee Gunderson

Venue	The UW Field House \| Madison, Wis.
Match Notes	Wisconsin \| Purdue \| Northwestern
Statistics	Wisconsin \| Purdue \| No rthwestern \| Big Ten
TV	vs. Purdue \| vs. No rthwestern
Radio	Listen Live on U100.9 FM
Live Stats	vs. Purdue \| vs. Northwestern
Social Media	Facebook \| Twitter \| Instagram

MADISON, Wis. -- Fourth-ranked Wisconsin (20-2, 12-2 B1G) plays five of its last six Big Ten regular-season matches at home, including two this weekend. The Badgers look to avenge their Oct. 31 loss to No. 9 Purdue (18-5, 10-4) when the Boilermakers come to town on Friday. First serve is at 7 p.m. on B1G+. Wisconsin faces Northwestern (11-14, 6-8) for the second time in nine days when the Wildcats come to the Field House on Sunday. Match time is 1 p.m. live on B1G+.

1. ALONE AT THE TOP: Wisconsin took over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings with two victories last weekend. The Badgers swept Northwestern and Iowa on the road, wrapping up a tough stretch of six road matches in the last eight contests. UW is a match ahead of second-place Nebraska and Minnesota, who are both 11-3 in conference play.

2. KELLY'S COUNTDOWN: Head coach Kelly Sheffield is counting down to 500 career wins, needing four victories to hit the milestone. In his ninth year at Wisconsin, Sheffield is 496-164 (.752) in his 21st year as a head coach.

3. RETTKE THE RECORD BREAKER: Fifth-year senior Dana Rettke is on track to break the UW career record for total blocks. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker has 678 blocks, needing five stuffs to break the UW mark of 682 blocks set by Heather Dodaro (1994-97).

4. SIGNIFICANT STREAKS: Wisconsin has won 30 straight matches at home, dating back to Sept. 19, 2019, breaking the previous mark of 25-straight home wins from Oct. 29, 1999 through Sept. 8, 2001. UW has also won 23 straight home Big Ten matches, dating back to Nov. 9, 2018. The school record is 25 straight home conference wins set from Oct. 29, 1999 through Nov. 21, 2001.

5. THAT'S MORE LIKE IT:  Wisconsin got its hitting back on track last weekend, hitting better than .300 in both matches. The Badgers hit .309 at Northwestern and .396 at Iowa, their highest hitting percentage during the Big Ten season. On the weekend, UW hit .354 (86k-17e-195ta) behind Devyn Robinson, who hit .692 (19k-1e-26ta).

6. SCOUTING THE TEAMS: The Badgers get their revenge match at home vs. the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday night. The Boilermakers are 18-5 on the season and 10-4 in conference play. Their Big Ten losses are to No.9 Nebraska, Michigan State, No.7 Ohio State and Illinois. Fifth-year outside hitter Caitlyn Newton leads the team with 3.82 kills per set, followed by senior outside hitter Grace Cleveland with 3.29 kills per set.Taylor Trammell, a sophomore middle blocker, has a team-best 1.40 blocks per set while fifth-year defensive specialist Jena Otec leads the Boilermakers with 4.54 digs per set.

Northwestern will travel to the UW Field House after being swept by the Badgers last weekend. The Wildcats are currently 11-14 on the season and 6-8 in Big Ten Play. Since playing Wisconsin, Northwestern secured a win against Indiana in four sets. Junior outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara leads the team with 3.90 kills per set, followed by redshirt junior outside hitter Hanna Lesiak with 2.66 kills per set. Desiree Becker, a junior middle blocker, leads the Wildcats with 0.98 blocks per set while senior libero, Megan Miller, has a team-best 3.02 digs per set.