FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- It was the same opponent, same result but different night for the No. 1-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team. Just 24 hours after pulling out a five-set thriller at No. 21 Arkansas, the Badgers (4-0) made it a sweep of the Razorbacks with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-17 sweep on Thursday night.
The Badgers took care of business against Arkansas (2-2) using a balanced and potent offensive effort as well as tough back-row defense. Wisconsin also improved its scoring game in the second match in as many night against the Razorbacks.
Wisconsin led the way in all statistical categories, hitting .345 (50 kills -11 errors - 113 attempts) while holding Arkansas to just .160 (35-14-131). The Badgers had three attackers in double figures as Sarah Franklin finished the night with 12 kills. Devyn Robinson added 11 kills and Anna Smrek contributed 10 putaways. The Razorbacks finished with just one player in double figures as Jillian Gillen put down 15 kills.
Senior MJ Hammill recorded a team-high 12 digs while Franklin, Izzy Ashburn and Gulce Guctekin each added 11 saves. Julia Orzol added 10 digs. The Badgers outpassed Arkansas, 67-38. In addition to Franklin recording a double-double, Hammill and Ashburn both recorded double-doubles, adding 21 and 20 assists, respectively.Â
A major difference from last night's match was UWs serving as the Badgers used stronger serving to force Arkansas out of its offense. After only two aces on Wednesday night, the Badgers put up five aces in the three-set match on Thursday behind two apiece from Guctekin and Orzol.
The Badgers got a slow start on Thursday just like Wednesday, falling behind 7-3. But a 5-0 serving run from Franklin put UW up 9-7. From there it was a back-and-forth battle until Wisconsin broke a 19-all tie with a 3-0 run to lead 22-19. o take a 21-19 lead. Kills from Robinson, Smrek and Thomas-Ailara clinched the first set.
Wisconsin took control in set two, hitting .528 (21-2-36) with five kills apiece from Franklin and Carter Booth as well as four kills each from Robinson and Smrek. The Badgers pulled ahead at 17-10 and never looked back, taking the set 25-16.
The third set featured more of the Badger's balanced offensive effort as they took a 19-10 lead. A Booth kill gave Wisconsin match point at 24-16. The Razorbacks held off one match point before a final kill from Robinson kept UW's unbeaten streak alive.
Straight from the court
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield
"Massive difference from last night to tonight, I thought. They don't hit it to you. A lot of people do put the ball right on people. These guys do a really good job of getting the ball into spaces of the court. Last night it was a lot of waiting for the ball to come to us. Tonight we were going and pursuing and getting our transition on."
"It was amazing that we beat a really good team last night with basically two rotations scoring, the other four just weren't, they weren't having any problems. Izzy and MJ were carrying a massive load serving wise. It wasn't a whole lot better first time around, but second and third time looked a lot better."
Graduate student Temi Thomas-Ailara
"I think today we really talked about having a fast start and attacking the other team and be ready on the attack. They were on the attack last night and we were kind of on defense. And tonight we attacked them."
Notes to know
- Wisconsin opens the season 4-0 for the eighth time in 11 years under head coach Kelly Sheffield.
- UW hit better than .300 for the third time this season, connecting on a season-high .345 (50-11-113) against the Razorbacks.
- The Badgers improved to 3-0 against top-25 ranked teams this season.Â
- Senior Sarah Franklin picked up her first double-double of the season and 19th of her career with team-high 12 kills while adding 11 digs.Â
- Senior MJ Hammill earned her second-straight double-double with 21 assists and 12 digs, her eighth career double-double.Â
- Grad student Izzy Ashburn picked up her third double-double of the season with 20 assists and 11 digs, bringing her career total to nine. The setter also had one service ace against the Razorbacks to bring her career total to 163, just three off tying the UW career record of 166.Â
- Junior Julia Orzol earned 10-or-more digs for the fourth match this season with 10 against Arkansas on Thursday. Â
Up next
The Badgers return to Madison for their home opener on Sunday at 1 p.m. vs. No. 24 Tennessee at the UW Field House. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 12:45 p.m. as UW drops the 2022 Big Ten Conference Championship banner prior to first serve.
