Serving up six: Badgers travel to Indiana

Friday, February 12

Bloomington, IN

3 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

Indiana

Photo by: Greg Anderson

Serving up six: Badgers travel to Indiana

February 11, 2021 | Volleyball

Wisconsin takes on Hoosiers in weekend series

By: Diane Nordstrom

#1 Wisconsin

6-0, 6-0 B1G

Indiana

2-4, 2-4 B1G

Game Coverage

Friday & Saturday, Feb. 12 & 13 | 3 p.m. CT Friday / 3 p.m. CT Saturday | Wilkinson Hall | Bloomington, Ind.

Watch On B1G Network+

Follow on Twitter

Follow Live Stats

Listen on U 100.9

MADISON, Wis – The Badgers (6-0, 6-0 B1G) take to the road for their next four contests, including a road trip to Indiana (2-4, 2-4) this weekend. Wisconsin and the Hoosiers serve off at 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. Both matches will be streamed live on B1G Network+.

Here are six things we're serving up to you as the Badgers open the season.

1. SERVING UP AN ACE: Wisconsin turned up its serving last weekend against Rutgers, averaging 2.67 service aces per set. Four Badgers totaled three-or-more aces on the weekend—Izzy Ashburn (5), Molly Haggerty (4), Grace Loberg (3) and Lauren Barnes (3). UW tallied 16 aces over two matches while allowing only two service aces by the Scarlet Knights. In their first four matches of the season, the Badgers tallied just 14 service aces, averaging 1.08 aces per set. Over the last two matches, Wisconsin had 16 services aces or 2.67 per set.

2. THREE IN TOP 10 FOR HITTING: The Badgers hit below .300 for the first time this season when they hit .293 (36-12-82) against Rutgers on Friday. UW dropped to second in the Big Ten fourth nationally with a team hitting percentage of .350. Three players rank among the top 10 in individual hitting percentage—Dana Rettke ranks first at .487; Danielle Hart ranks third at .478; and Devyn Robinson ranks sixth at .412.

3. BALANCED ATTACK: The Badgers have one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the nation with six players averaging 1.7 or more kills per set. Senior Dana Rettke leads the team and ranks ninth in the Big Ten with 3.37 kills per set. Outside hitters Molly Haggerty and Grace Loberg both add 2.80 kills per set while right-side hittDevyn Robinson puts away 2.26 kills per set. Other attackers include Danielle Hart (1.89) and Jade Demps (1.75).

4. HOLDING DOWN OPPONENTS: UW opponents are hitting just .144 this season against the Badgers with only one opponent—Illinois on Jan. 30 at .202—hitting over .200. Wisconsin is outblocking foes 48.5 - 19.0 while recording equal to or more digs and all opponents to record a 257-220 advantage in digs.

5. NCAA CAREER LEADERS: Dana Rettke leads all players in the nation in career hitting percentage (.424), total blocks (527) and blocks per set (1.47). The 6-foot-8 middle blocker ranks 12th in total kills with 1,301. Sydney Hilley ranks second on the national career lists with 11.84 assists per set and ranks second with 4,323 total assists. Redshirt senior Molly Haggerty sits at 31st with 1,101 total kills. Redshirt senior Giorgia Civita ranks 12th in digs per set at 5.10 and 23rd in career digs with 1,475.

6. SCOUTING HOOSIERS: Indiana is currently tied for seventh in the Big Ten standings at 2-4. The Hoosiers split in action with both Iowa and Rutgers while getting swept by Nebraska.

Freshman Tommi Stockham leads the Hoosiers with 83 kills on the season and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in kills at 3.61 per set. Stockham had 26 kills in the Hoosiers five-set win at Iowa on Feb. 6. Stockham earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors this week. Freshman Leyla Blackwell recorded 13 blocked in the Hoosiers five-set win at Iowa, which tied the Indiana program record for blocks in a Big Ten five-set match for a player. Blackwell has 32 blocks on the season and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in blocking at 1.39 blocks per set. Blackwell earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors this week. Haley Armstrong has recorded double-digit digs in five-straight matches. Armstrong ranks ninth in the Big Ten in digs at 3.74 per set. Indiana ranks third in the Big Ten in blocking at 2.57 per set. Sophie Oliphant ranks eighth in the Big Ten in aces at 0.47 per set.