MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The sixth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team continued its Big Ten Conference opening weekend with a tough battle at the net, after falling to Minnesota 21-25, 16-25, 27-29 Sunday night.
The first set featured 13 ties and five lead changes as the two teams battled to a 20-20 tie. Minnesota (6-4,1-1) scored five of the last six points to take the first set.
In the second set, the Golden Gophers broke open the period with a 5-0 to take a 12-7 lead. Wisconsin (7-3,1-1) would cut the lead to two (12-10) but Minnesota would cruise to a second-set win.
The Badgers served for set point four times in the third set but could not convert and push the match to a fourth set. Wisconsin served for set point at 27-26 but Minnesota scored three straight to complete the sweep of UW.
Sophomore
Sarah Franklin continued her success as a Badger, putting away a team-high 14 kills. Sophomore Julia Orzoł added 11 kills while redshirt senior
Danielle Hart contributed to the offense with six kills.
Gulce Guctekin led the Badgers in digs, tallying 11 total.
Izzy Ashburn followed with seven digs.
Ashburn also led the team in assists, contributing 22 helpers. Junior
MJ Hammill followed with 15 assists at setter.
Straight off the court
Coach Kelly Shefflield
"We started out with a lot of errors. Serving wise we gave them 17 points in the first set. We were right there even with all those errors. I thought our passers were a little bit jumpy early on. Usually when you see that happening, when they are so locked in and calling the ball really early… usually that means you are a little bit anxious and a little bit stressed."
"We will get back to the gym, get a little bit better, and we got Penn State in front of us who is a really good team, that's really confident and ready to go."
Notes to know
- Redshirt sophomore Sarah Franklin recorded a career-high five service aces, including three in a row in the third set.
- Minnesota hit an opponent season-high .356 percent, the first team to hitter better than .300 this season against UW.
- Freshman Gulce Guctekin led all players with 11 digs, her eighth-straight match with double-figure digs.
- Redshirt junior Liz Gregorski matched her career high with one service ace, her sixth match this season with one ace.
Up next
The Badgers return to the UW Field House Friday, September 30 to face No. 9 Penn State at 8 p.m. The match will be aired live on the Big Ten Network and heard on WIBA 1310.
