EAST LANSING, Mich. – Despite losing just its second set of the season, the top-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team remains undefeated on the year after a four-set win at Michigan State on Sunday afternoon. The Badgers (10-0, 10-0 B1G) downed the Spartans 25-10, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22.

After easily winning the first two sets, Wisconsin faced a re-energized MSU team in the third set. The Spartans led 6-3 early but the Badgers rallied to tie the score at 10 behind the serve of Izzy Ashburn. The set was also tied at 11 before MSU went on a 3-0 run to lead 14-11. The Badgers would cut the lead to one several times, including at 18-17 but the State would put away six kills over the stretch to win the set.

Wisconsin led by three points several times in the fourth set, including at 20-17 but MSU knotted the score at 20 off a block. The set was also tied at 21 before freshmen Jade Demps and Devyn Robinson combined for three kills to give the Badgers their 10th win of the season.

Demps led all hitters with a career-high 17 kills while hitting .531 with no errors on 32 attempts. She was the only Badger in double figures. Wisconsin hit .302 (49 kills -14 errors – 116 attempts) as a team and held Michigan State to .079 (39-28-140).

The Badgers had one of their best defensive outings of the season, recording a season-high 14 blocks and 61 digs. Senior Dana Rettke led all blockers with six stuffs while Danielle Hart and Grace Loberg both tallied five blocks. Wisconsin outblocked MSU 14-6.

Senior Lauren Barnes led all players with a career-high 28 digs as the Badgers finished with a 61-50 advantage in saves over the Spartans.

State got the best of the Badgers from the service line as they recorded an opponent season-high nine aces while the Badgers served four aces, including two from Barnes.
 

Straight from the court

Head coach Kelly Sheffield
"They're a Big Ten team, they're good. Their backs were up against the wall and they're going to come out fighting. They got clobbered there for a little bit. I thought they really stepped up their game. They passed really, really well. They outpassed us big time today. They were able to be in their offense a lot more than they were yesterday. That was a big difference. We struggled a little bit in handling the ball, the latter part of (the match). It was probably them as much as us. I was pleased with how we played. We struggled a little bit with passing the ball at times. Other than that, I thought we played really well today.

"Defensively I thought we were just really, really good today. Yesterday was all about first-ball - side out, serve receive - sideout. Today was all about transition. We struggled a little bit passing the ball today compared to yesterday but we took really good out-of-system swings. Defensively we were so much better than what we were (yesterday). We came out and got a lot of stuff blocks, got a lot of positive touches on our blocks, our backcourt was flying all over the place. Barnes was certainly leading the way. That was certainly her best match of the season, no doubt about it.

On Jade Demps
"We were getting her the ball a lot. We were out of system an awful lot and she was taking some really, really good out-of-system swings for us – working the ball all over the court.

Jade Demps
"Every day I just want to get better and its really awesome to have a team that allows me to do that. I know they've got my back and I'm just going out swinging. Everyone is there for me, telling me what's open so I go, 'Okay, okay I got it. I'm going to do that.'

"It's like having the best team in the country. Our team, every single day in the gym, we're all practicing as hard as we can. Our depth is just so great that I know at a moment's notice, I could go in and I have to be able to be there and hold up my end.

"Every day it's a huge competition. Coming out here, I feel like our practices prepare me already. More than enough to come out and play well, and go out and get as many kills as I can for our team."  
 

Notes to know

• Freshman Jade Demps recorded a career-high 17 kills while hitting a careeer-best .531 (17 kills – 0 errors – 32 attempts). The 6-foot-2 outside hitter also added a career-high two digs.
• Senior Lauren Barnes recorded a career-high 25 digs, improving upon her previously best of 20 set earlier this year. She also recorded a career-high five assists and tied her career best with one kill.
• Transfer Deahna Kraft recorded a career-high 8 digs after tallying a career-best two aces yesterday.

Up Next

The Badgers return home to face No. 4 Nebraska on Friday and Saturday in the UW Field House. First serve is at 7 p.m. on Friday and 8 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches air live on Big Ten Network.