MADISON, Wis. – Rallying from an eight-point deficit in the fourth set, the third-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team rallied to defeat Indiana 25-18, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24 on Sunday afternoon in the UW Field House.

Trailing 21-13 in the fourth set, a 5-0 run pulled the Badgers (19-3, 13-1 BIG) within three (21-18). A service ace from MJ Hammill made it just a one-point game (23-22) but Indiana (13-13, 6-8 BIG) served for set point at 24-22. Back-to-back kills by Jade Demps and Sarah Franklin knotted the score at 24 before an IU hitting error followed by a block by Danielle Hart and Demps sealed the win.

After easily winning the first two sets, Wisconsin struggled on serve receive the last two sets. Indiana scored an opponent season-high 13 service aces, including six in the fourth set alone. The Badgers also served well, scoring on eight service aces, including three from Hammill.
 
The Badgers hit .252 (49 kills-16 errors-131 attempts) while holding Indiana to a .155 (51-27-155) hitting percentage. 

Sarah Franklin led the Badgers with 18 kills followed by Devyn Robinson and Anna Smrek with nine apiece.
 
Sophomore Julia Orzol led UW with a career-high tying 16 digs while Shanel Bramschreiber followed with 13 saves. 

Hammill put up 21 assists to lead UW while Izzy Ashburn added 18 helpers.
 
The Badgers finished with an 8.0 - 4.0 block advantage with Smrek leading the way with five stops. Demps and Hart followed with three blocks apiece.
 
Wisconsin broke open the first set, using a 5-0 run to take a 10-6 lead. Ashburn had a service ace to cap off the run. The Hoosiers would cut the lead to two, including at 18-16 before UW went on a 3-0 run to go up 21-16. Smrek's first career service ace capped off the win. The Badgers tallied only seven kills in the first set as Indiana had seven service errors not allowing Wisconsin to get into an offensive rhythm.
 
The Badgers broke open the second set behind the service of Bramschreiber. The libero served seven straight as UW went on a 7-0 run to take a 23-12 lead. A 3-0 Indiana rally cut the lead to 23-16 before Wisconsin served for set point at 24-16. The Hoosiers held off one set point before an IU hitting error put the Badgers up 2-0 in the match.
 
Four early service aces gave Indiana an 8-1 lead in set three but Wisconsin slowly came back, tying the score at 20 off a service ace by Orzol. A Robinson kill gave the Badgers a 22-21 lead but IU scored three straight to serve for set point at 24-22. A Hoosier service error gave Wisconsin a chance to tie the set at 24, which appeared to happen on the court due to an Indiana hitting error. IU challenged the call and a touch was called on the UW block, sending the match to a fourth set.

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield
"We were in a battle. …We fought back and we were able to get a tie. Right there toward the end, Joslyn (Boyer), when she came in and had a big time dig in a big moment and continued to make big play after big play when our backs were against the wall. Obviously Anna (Smrek) coming in and playing the middle and just having herself quite a day was awfully big for us.
 
"It's one of the luxuries that we have when you're looking at players like Anna and you're having players like Devyn (Robinson), like Jade. Players that you can move around and do some different things and they're fine with it. Jade's a perfect example of somebody that has been used as a left side hitter, as a ride side hitter, as a back row only hitter, a server, as a passer…To me, that's how the game should be played. Instead of specializing in just being able to do one or two things well, being able to do a lot of different things well and give us flexibility."
 
Anna Smrek
"Even before I got here I grew up a middle, put me anywhere and I'm going to work hard and be ready to go.
 
 "I don't think we realized we were down eight points at the time, we were very one-ball, next-ball mentality. We were never thinking about the past ball. We were very much in the moment and staying calm. We didn't let our nerves get frantic. Slowly before we noticed those points started to chip away. We were there to compete, and I think that's what we did."
 
Jade Demps
"We talked earlier this week how we have the ability to do so many things and to not let it be something of a detriment to us. We really showed tonight that we can just change it up and it still works, I thought we did a really good job fighting, we got aced a lot, but we never gave up.

"My pride is the pride of the team, I know they are coming right at me so my mindset is I'm taking this ball. I don't care, I'm helping us get out of whatever situation we are in. I've worked really hard on my passing, and I was ready for it."

Notes to know

• Junior Caroline Crawford missed the first match of her collegiate career with a hand injury. Sophomore Anna Smrek started in place of Crawford at middle blocker.
• Sophomore Anna Smrek recorded her first career service ace to seal the first set win for the Badgers. The 6-foot-9 middle blocker / right-side hitter served three times after serving just once as a freshan.
• Sophomore Julia Orzol tied her career high with 16 digs.
• The Badgers have now won 12 matches in a row, which ties for the ninth-longest winning streak in program history.  Wisconsin is also undefeated in the UW Field House this season at 11-0.
• Wisconsin completed a season sweep of the Hoosiers, the third Big Ten opponent to go 2-0 against this season. The Badgers also won both matches against Michigan and Illinois. 

Up next

The Badgers wrap up the regular home season next weekend by hosting Rutgers and Maryland. Wisconsin plays the Scarlet Knights on Friday at 7 p.m. UW celebrates Senior Night on Saturday when the Terrapins come to town. First serve is at 7 p.m. Both matches air live on B1G+ and can be heard on U100.9 FM.