MADISON, Wis. — For the second time this season, the Wisconsin volleyball team faced a top-10 opponent and came away with a win. On Friday, the second-ranked Badgers (5-0) defeated No. 8 Kentucky 25-17, 25-11, 26-28, 26-24 at the UW Field House.
After handily winning the first two sets, Wisconsin had to hold off the surging Wildcats (5-2) as both the third and fourth sets went into extra points.
Wisconsin trailed by as many as four points in the fourth set, including at 18-14 before a 5-1 run by the Badgers tied the score at 19. UW served for match point at 24-20 but Kentucky wasn't done, scoring four straight to tie the set at 24. Danielle Hart took measures into her own hands, putting Wisconsin up 25-24 and Dana Rettke followed that up with the match-winning kill.
As a team, the Badgers hit .305 (61 kills - 18 errors - 141 attempts) while holding Kentucky to a .133 (43-24-143) hitting percentage. Offensively, Rettke lead the pack hitting .583 (16-2-24), sharing match-high honors with 16 kills. Devyn Robinson added 14 kills while hitting .407 (14-3-27) while Jade Demps added 11 kills.
Sydney Hilley put up 44 assists in running the Badger offense.
Defensively, Wisconsin outblocked the Wildcats, 9-6, behind five stuffs from Hart. The Badgers also had the edge in digs with 67 to Kentucky's 53. Lauren Barnes led the team with 17 saves while Hilley picked up a double-double with 13 saves. Giorgia Civita also added 13 digs.
Behind the service line, Civita and Barnes both recorded two service aces. The Badgers were even with the Wildcats behind the line, both teams finishing with six service aces.
The first two sets were dominated by the Badgers, holding the Wildcats to team hitting percentages of .033 (8-7-30) in the first and .000 (7-7-38) in the second. Wisconsin closed out the second set with seven straight points, all served by Joslyn Boyer.
Kentucky made some adjustments on offense and were able to bounce back during the third set. It went back and forth between the teams with 11 tie scores and three lead changes. Wisconsin served for match point two times in set three but service errors allowed Kentucky to win the set and force a fourth period.
Straight from the court
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield
"I thought early on defensively we were awfully good and gave them some issues passing. When they came out in the third (set),fighting for their lives and really picked up the pace, we let them off the hook a few times in the third set. But the thing I really like about that is that will test you, being able to stay in the fight and give yourself a chance. I thought we did that coming into the fourth (set). Kentucky really picked up their defense in the third and fourth sets. There were just so many scrappy plays by both teams tonight, it had to be a lot of fun to watch.
"If the students aren't careful, they might just turn themselves into the best student group in the country. They're bringing it, man. They are bringing it."
Middle Blocker Dana Rettke
"That's a really good team and that's a team that we definitely could be seeing again in the postseason. I think there's a lot we can take away from that match.
"I had 100% confidence in Gio and you just saw it in her eyes too. When she went back there, there was not a single ounce of doubt in her mind. That's what we need behind the service line consistently. She brought it in the big moments. The whole team in general, we trust each other. I think everyone is rising up to those big moments more and more as we continue to go out throughout the season."
Setter Sydney Hilley
"I really loved the atmosphere in the Field House tonight. The fans and the student section consistently selling out, that's something really special that hasn't happened since I've been here. I thought the crowd was awesome, they were really into it and brought a lot of energy."
Notes to Know
- The Badgers tied a school record, winning 25-straight home matches, dating back to Sept. 27, 2019. From Oct. 29, 1999 through Sept. 8, 2001, Wisconsin also won 25 straight matches at home.
- Graduate student Dana Rettke tallied four blocks in the match to hit 600 career blocks. She became just the fourth Badger to tally to 600 blocks in a career. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker also moved up to fifth on the UW all-time list for kills. Rettke has 1,468 kills in her career.
- Both teams scored six service aces, marking the first time this season an opponent has equaled or surpassed the Badgers from the service line. Wisconsin also had a season-high 11 service errors.
- Graduate student Sydney Hilley picked up her 39th career double-double and second of the season with 44 assists and 13 digs.
- Sophomore Jade Demps tied her career high with 32 attack attempts and also picked up her first career assist.
- Freshman Lauren Jardine saw her first action as a Badger, putting away one kill on five attempts.
Up Next
The Badgers travel to state-rival Marquette on Sunday for a 4:30 p.m. game from the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. The match will be broadcasted live on FS1.
