MADISON, Wis. -- Fifth-ranked Wisconsin (13-3, 6-1 B1G) wraps up the first half of Big Ten play with a home and away match. The Badgers host Michigan State (10-9, 1-7) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the UW Field House. The match streams live on B1G+. UW faces No. 25 Michigan (13-5, 4-4) for the second time in a week when they travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Sunday. First serve is at 12 p.m. CT from the Crisler Center live on ESPN2.
1. SIX WINS IN A ROW: Wisconsin extended its winning streak to a season-best six matches with two wins last weekend. The Badgers swept Iowa on the road on Friday before downing No. 24 Michigan, 3-1, at home on Sunday. UW has also won eight straight home Big Ten matches.
2. FRANKLIN NAMED B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Redshirt sophomore
Sarah Franklin was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday. She captures her first career player of the week award. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter averaged 5.14 kills, 2.43 digs and 0.43 blocks per set last weekend. Franklin collected 20 kills and hit .567 in a sweep of Iowa while adding 16 kills and 11 digs against No. 24 Michigan.
3. BLOCKING WITH CC: Junior
Caroline Crawford has turned up her blocking, averaging 2.0 blocks per set over the last three matches. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker has seven-or-more blocks in each match over the span. Crawford is averaging a season-best 1.40 blocks per set, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten.
4. BADGER BLOCK: The Badgers have double-figure blocks in nine matches this season, including the last five matches in a row. Wisconsin averages 3.13 blocks per set, which ranks second nationally and second in the Big Ten.
Danielle Hart ranks second nationally and second in the Big Ten with 1.67 blocks per set while
Caroline Crawford ranks fifth with 1.40 blocks per set.
5. STOPPING OPPONENTS: Wisconsin has been able to stop opponents' offense this season as foes hit just .147 this season, which ranks sixth nationally and second in the Big Ten. Four opponents have hit less than .100 this season and 12 have hit less than .200 this year, including seven of eight Big Ten foes.
6. WISCONSIN IN THE POLLS: Wisconsin remains fifth in the
AVCA Top-25 Coaches' Poll released Monday. The Big Ten leads the poll with seven teams in the top 25. Wisconsin has been ranked in the AVCA national poll for 144 consecutive polls, including the last 47 straight polls in the top 10. UW also moved up one place to seventh in the second
NCAA RPI of the season, released Monday. The Badgers are the third Big Ten team in the RPI, which features seven conference teams in the top 27.
