MADISON -- As the Big Ten leader in service aces per set, the No. 1 Wisconsin volleyball team dished out 11 aces en route to its ninth straight sweep. The Badgers (18-0, 9-0) downed Ohio State, 25-22, 25-15, 25-18, at the UW Field House on Wednesday night.
The Badgers came back from behind in the first set as the Buckeyes (7-11, 4-5) jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Sarah Franklin fueled the comeback as she tied it up at seven apiece with three kills over stretch. Wisconsin secured a 9-8 lead and never lost that lead. Five kills from Anna Smrek and Franklin propelled the Badgers to a 25-22 first set victory.
It was an evenly matched battle in the second set until Izzy Ashburn stepped up to the service line. Ashburn dished out three service aces during her eight trips to the line. Ohio State eventually sided out but Badgers has more than doubled the Ohio State score at 18-8. UW maintained momentum and took the second frame 25-15.
The Buckeyes continued to stick around, as the third set was tied at 5-5. Franklin tallied six kills and led the Badgers to a commanding 20-13 lead that forced an Ohio State timeout. A kill from Booth followed by a kill from Temi Thomas-Ailara secured the set and match.
Franklin continued her domination as she had a match-high 16 kills. Thomas-Ailara also finished in double figure kills, tallying 11. Wisconsin finished the night hitting .274 (46 kills - 17 errors - 106 attempts).
The Buckeyes hit .152 (28 - 14 - 92) as outside hitter Emily Londot and middle blocker Rylee Rader both recorded nine kills.
The Badgers tied their season-high, which ties for third on the all-time program list, with 11 service aces. Julia Orzol set a career-high and Ashburn set a season-high, both recording four aces.
Once again, UW outblocked their opponent with 6.0 blocks compared to Ohio State's 4.0 blocks. Carter Booth and Smrek led all players with four stuffs apiece.
Ashburn posted another career high with 37 assists. Julia Orzol continued to shine in the back row, recording a match-high 12 digs.
Straight from the court
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield
On what changed the game: "I thought we did a great job behind the service line and really put a lot of pressure on them with where we were serving and the confidence and execution of going out there. That was probably the biggest thing of the match. The other thing I thought we scrambled really well tonight and fought to keep balls off the floor and got some really nice transition kills. Those are probably the two biggest things that stand out to me."
Setter Izzy Ashburn
On bouncing back in the first set: We're a team that bounces back really well and I mean there was no panic within that. We might have been down from the start but we were doing the right thing. We're barely missing, keep staying fearless out there and keep going for it."
Middle blocker Carter Booth
On believing: "I think, as a team, belief is our super power. Believing in ourselves and the people around us that we know what we need to and that we're going to do it."
Notes to know
- Badgers upped their school record to 27-straight Big Ten match victories, dating back to the 2022 season, including a 19-match conference winning streak the Field House.
- Wisconsin extends the nation's longest set winning streak to 30 sets.
- The 11 aces by the Badgers ties team season high. The Badgers had 11 aces previously against Arizona (9/7) and Rutgers (10/13).
- Setter Izzy Ashburn set a career-high in 37 assists and tied her career best with one block.
- Julia Orzol had a career-high four aces.
- Sydney Reed recorded her first assist of the season.
- CC Crawford tied a season-high two assists.
Up next
The Badgers hit the road for their biggest test of the season so far as they take on No. 2 Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. The game airs live on Big Ten Network.
