MADISON, Wis. – Another impressive performance on offense led the fifth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team to a 27-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-22 win over No. 24 Michigan on Sunday.
 
The outside-hitting duo of Sarah Franklin and Julia Orzol combined for 34 of the Badgers' (13-3, 7-1 BIG) 67 kills in the match. Orzol led all hitters with 18 kills followed by Franklin with 16. Devyn Robinson got hot late in the match to finish with 12 putaways.
 
UW hit .255 (67-25-165) while holding the Wolverines (13-5, 4-4) to .184 (50-24-141). Izzy Ashburn led the Badgers in assists, putting up a career-high 33 helpers while MJ Hammill added 22 helpers.

Jess Mruzik was the only U-M player in double-digit kills with 12 as Wisconsin had a plus-17 advantage in kills.
 
Three Badgers earned double-doubles in the match as Orzol and Franklin both added 11 digs to their kill totals. MJ Hammill picked up 11 saves to go along with her assists. Michigan edged the Badgers 65-59 in digs behind a match-high 20 saves from Hannah Grant.
 
Wisconsin out-blocked Michigan 13.0 to 9.5 behind seven blocks from Caroline Crawford followed by Danielle Hart with six stuffs.
 
Badgers dominated behind the service line, 5 to 2 in service aces, with Crawford, Ashburn, Hammill, Orzol and Liz Gregorski earning aces for UW.

Wisconsin controlled most of the first set, leading by as many as four points several times, including at 23-19. A 3-0 Wolverine run cut the lead to 23-22 with the Badgers serving for set point at 24-23. Michigan tied the set at 24 but UW served for set point No. 2 at 25-24. U-M held off the Badgers again before a kill by Orzol and a hitting error by the Wolverines gave Wisconsin the first set.

The Badgers controlled the second set to take a 2-0 lead in the match but Michigan put up a fight in the third set, as the two teams battled through 15 ties and six lead changes. Wisconsin served for match point at 24-23 but the Wolverines scored three-straight points to win the period and send the match to a fourth set.

The fourth set was also a battle with Wisconsin leading by four points early (11-7) before Michigan rallied to knot the score at 14. The set was tied seven more ties, including at 22-22, before two kills from Orzol keyed a 3-0 run to seal the win.

Straight from the court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield 
"I mean what a great college match ... it was back and forth. Neither team could get real separation the entire match.
 
"I think we can be a whole lot better than what we were defensively. It's the fact that we held them to a lower percentage - that was what we expect. I thought the first set we were really poor blocking but we got a lot better as the match went on."
 
Julia Orzol
"I really liked the adjustments we made when it came to defense in the first set. We had to feel the game a little bit more I think, but we learned and we grew as the match was going, and the aggressiveness behind the serving line was definitely the factor that allowed us to be better also defensively" 
 
Caroline Crawford
"I would say that I had a better connection with the setters...I think part of that is just from passing, like what Kelly said, is a team effort. And when we pass a 2.5, we have all four options available"

Notes to know

• Redshirt sophomore Sarah Franklin has recorded 10-or-more kills in seven-straight matches. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter had 16 kills and also picked up a double-double with 11 digs today. Franklin has four double-doubles as a Badger and 16 in her career.
• Sophomore Julia Orzol had a double-double with a match-high 18 kills and 11 digs. The 6-foot-outside hitter earned the third double-double of the season and ninth of her career. She had double-figure kills in the last three matches.
• Junior MJ Hammill added a double-double with a season-high 24 assists as well as 11 digs for the fourth of her career, all coming this season.
• Senior Izzy Ashburn put up a career-high 33 assists.
• Junior Devyn Robinson tied her career best with five digs.
• Junior Liz Gregorski tied her career highs of two digs and one service ace.
• Grad Shanel Bramschreiber made her home debut to a standing ovation. The 5-foot-8 defensive specialist played in three sets, serving nine times.
• The Badgers upped their winning streak to a season-best six matches and their home Big Ten winning streak to seven matches.
• For the ninth match this season, Wisconsin had double-figure blocks. The Badgers outblocked Michigan 13.0 - 9.5. UW has had 10-or-more blocks in the last five consecutive matches.
• Wisconsin recorded a season-high 67 kills and 63 assists vs. the Wolverines.
• UW held Michigan to a .184 hitting percentage, the sixth-straight opponent under .185.

Up next
The Badgers remain in Madison to face Michigan State in the UW Field House on Friday at 7 p.m.  The match will be streamed on Big Ten+ and can be heard on Fox Sports 1070. Wisconsin takes to the road on Sunday for a re-match with No. 24 Michigan. First serve is at 11 a.m. from Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, live on ESPN2.