MADISON -- It was a different lineup, but the same result for the No. 1 Wisconsin volleyball team as it swept Rutgers, 25-17, 25-4, 25-16, on Friday night at the UW Field House. 

With both MJ Hammill and Devyn Robinson out with injuries, Izzy Ashburn commanded a 5-1 offense. Anna Smrek also took on a new role behind the service line, recording a career high two aces. 

The Badgers (16-0, 7-0 B1G) got off to a quick start in set one, taking a 6-2 lead behind a service ace from Anna Smrek on her first trip back behind the line this season. Rutgers (9-8, 1-6 B1G) responded quickly and tied it all up at 12 apiece. UW took the lead back with a 3-0 run and didn't lose it from there out as UW had three of their five service aces over the final stretch.

It was all Wisconsin in the second set. The Badgers tied a program record for fewest points allowed in a set, giving up only four points. UW hit .700 in the second frame with 14 kills on 20 attempts with no errors. Julia Orzol had a 9-0 service run and Sarah Franklin finished off the set with back-to-back aces to put Wisconsin up 2-0 in the match.

The Badgers started off the final frame on a 4-0 run and maintained a steady lead throughout the set. Back-to-back kills from Temi Thomas-Ailara forced a Rutgers timeout at 14-5. Thomas-Ailara continued her strong play the remainder of the set, finishing with five kills and a .500 hitting percentage. . 

UW hit .410 (44 kills - 10 errors - 83 attempts) as Franklin led the way with 16 kills. Smrek also finished in double figures with 10 kills. Thomas-Ailara added nine kills. 

The Badgers held Rutgers to double digits, hitting just .072 (19-13-83). Outside Taylor Humphrey led the Scarlet Knights with six kills. 

Izzy Ashburn put up 33 assists as she led the 5-1 offense. Gulce Guctekin and Orzol both recorded nine digs as Wisconsin finished with a 44-25 advantage in saves.

The Badgers doubled the Scarlet Knights in blocks as UW tallied 6.0 blocks. CC Crawford led the way with four blocks. 

Wisconsin tied a season-high with service aces with 11, including a season-high four aces from Franklin.
 

Straight from the court 

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield 

On the overall match: "Obviously the thing that jumps out at you is the serving. We did a really god job of putting a lot of pressure on them behind the service line. I think our side-out percentage is probably close to 80%, which is pretty good when you're serving like that and siding out like that."

On MJ and Devyn sitting out:  "I think one of things we pride ourselves in as a team is responding to whatever it is. When things don't go our way, you gotta go to plan B or C, and that's what the team is for. It's probably not a real big deal with our team although you're losing two really talented players and everyone did their role and did what we do."

Setter Izzy Ashburn

On running a 5-1: "I think it all started behind the service line, putting them in bad positions to get the ball back and run the office cleanly. Getting the ball up to the net we have so many options in the front and back row swinging it is really hard to defend and I'm sure hard to scout. Our service played a big part it that, getting the ball back and our hitters taking space, staying high even if that kill wasn't there. We were able to great better opportunities for the hitters around us."

Opposite Anna Smrek

On Set 2: "I didn't realize what the score was in the second set until later on. I think we continue to stack good-on-good, and played scrappy defense as well and rolled with what was given to us and we kept pursing balls on the long rallies, Which took us through the set."

Notes to know 

• Wisconsin ties the program record of 16-straight wins to start a season. The last time the Badgers won 16-consecutive matches was in 2020.
• The Badgers have won 24-straight sets, tying Arizona State (9/3-9/21) for the nation's top set winning streak.
• UW hit .410 against the Scarlet Knights (44-10-83), it's second-highest hitting percentage of the season. The Badgers have hit .300 or better in 12 matches this season.
• With 11 aces tonight, the Badgers tie a season high for aces (vs. Arizona 9/07), which ties for third on the UW three-set match record list.
• Wisconsin held Rutgers to a .072 (19-13-83) hitting percentage, the lowest opponent hitting percentage this season, and the sixth time this season holding the opponents under .100.
• The four points allowed in the second set ties for lowest points allowed by an opponent in Big Ten play this season.
• Junior Anna Smrek had a career-high two aces.

Up next 

Wisconsin is back in action at the UW Field House on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Maryland. The match streams live on B1G+.