MADISON, Wis. - The No. 7 Wisconsin women's volleyball team took care of business in their first conference battle of the 2025 season, defeating Rutgers (25-17, 25-17, 25-12) in straight sets to secure their seventh consecutive victory.
The Badgers (8-1) utilized a 5-0 run in the middle of set one to extend their advantage against the Scarlet Knights (9-4) behind the serving run of middle blocker Natalie Wardlow. Middle blockers Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew each tallied a kill in the process, in addition to a service ace turned in by Wardlow.
Outside hitter Madison Quest, in her first collegiate start, was clicking on all cylinders on the offensive end for UW, as the freshman finished with a perfect 3-for-3 line at the end of the first set to power the Badgers to a 25-17 win.
It was more of the same for Wisconsin in set two, as the Badgers provided a response to a strong Rutgers' run in the latter half of set two. UW went on to win four of the last five rallies to separate and take a 2-0 lead, capped off by an ace from setter Charlie Fuerbringer.
Wisconsin continued to keep its foot on the gas in set three, as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead with the help of the serving run from outside hitter Una Vajagic. The redshirt sophomore accumulated an ace in the process, finishing the evening with two.
From there, the Badgers continued to excel both offensively and defensively, highlighted by 11 blocks by the match's conclusion. UW was paced by Andrew, as the senior earned her second-highest mark of the year in that category with seven.
Colyer and Fuerbringer each racked up a kill to take the victory over the Scarlet Knights with a 25-12 final in set three. Colyer, fresh off of her second-straight Big Ten Player of the Week honor, notched double-digit kill totals for the ninth consecutive match—finishing the night with 10.
Quest and Booth combined for 14 kills on 25 attempts with zero errors to lead the Badgers on the offensive end. Quest completed her first start with a hitting percentage of .636 (7 - 0 - 11) to kick off conference play, chipping in four blocks and a pair of service aces.
Fuerbringer had 29 assists and seven digs, in addition to a pair of kills.
Wisconsin swept Rutgers for the 16th consecutive match, improving to 18-0 all-time against the Scarlet Knights—including 10-0 at the UW Field House.
Straight from the Court
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield (on tonight's match): "Defensively, I thought we got stronger as the match went on. We had a lot of success out of the middle. This was Mad-Dog's [Madison Quest] first college start, and it's not a bad stat line. She just kind of dotted the entire box score. It was just a complete game for her, and that's the type of player that she is."
Outside Hitter Madison Quest (on her first career start): "It was so much fun. The fans, the environment - you can't even imagine it. It was so much fun going out there and being able to start and having all the fans and all the teammates around me and having my back."
Middle Blocker Carter Booth (on connection with setter Charlie Fuerbringer): "Chemistry is always helpful, having that connection there. As a middle, especially at this level, our job is less about demanding perfect balls and more about managing whatever it is that we get. Today was great and it really has been. The past few games, we've just been climbing that ladder and improving and improving. I think for me it's the tangibles, it really opens up the court."
Notes:
- Wisconsin improves 18-0 over Rutgers, and swept the Scarlet Knights for the 16th-straight match.
- Wisconsin totaled 11.0 blocks, and totaled double-digit blocks in consecutive matches.
- Freshman Madison Quest got her first collegiate start on the right side against Rutgers. Quest hit a season-best seven kills on 11 attempts for a .636 hitting percentage. She also added two service aces and four blocks.
- Senior Mimi Colyer reached double-digit kills for her ninth consecutive match.
Up Next: The Badgers will take on their first conference road test on Sunday, as they travel to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes at XTream Arena. The match is set to get started at 2:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+.
