Wisconsin Badgers Volleyball Can’t Stop Sweeping Big Ten Opponents

Wisconsin’s set winning streak is now of legal age to order a beer anywhere in the country. The No. 1 ranked Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team swept the Iowa Hawkeyes (25-19, 25-18, 25-16) and Illinois Fighting Illini (25-22, 25-15, 25-12) last week and have now won 21 straight sets this season, all in conference play.

The Badgers (15-0 overall, 6-0 Big Ten) started off slow against the Hawkeyes, falling behind 17-13 in the first set but then realized they might need to kick it up a notch and went on a 7-0 run and never looked back. “I liked how we stayed with it as players and as defenders. We got stronger as we went along,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said after the match.

7️⃣ weeks on top for @BadgerVB while @SunDevilVB moves up 5️⃣ spots to No. 19‼️

Week 5 @AVCAVolleyball / Taraflex Coaches Poll 🏐#NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/6nBkki97KA

— NCAA Women’s Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) October 9, 2023

Temi Thomas-Ailara continued her hot streak with 10 kills (third straight match with 10 or more kills for her) and CC Crawford had five blocks to help the Badger outblock the Hawkeyes (8-9 overall, 0-5 B1G) 9.0-2.0. Julia Orzol tied a career-high with three aces on the match, an area that Wisconsin has improved on throughout the season.

“This team has such a great mentality, not only with serving but with everything. I think that once we go back on that service line, we are just focused on that serve,” outside hitter Ella Wrobel said.

Then, the Wisconsin Badgers Volleyball Team Took Care of Illiois

Next the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team went to Illinois and dismantled the Illini (7-9 overall, 2-4 B1G) after a slow start in the first set. UW had another dominating performance at the net, finishing the match with a 12.0-4.0 block advantage. Wisconsin has out-blocked 14 of their opponents so far this season.

Izzy Ashburn (17 assists, 10 digs) and MJ Hammill (16, 12) each recorded a double-double and Sarah Franklin had a team-high 11 kills to lead the way. Crawford had another standout day at the net, blocking seven shots (tied with Anna Smrek for the lead) and earning her Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. This was the second straight week that the Badgers won this award after Carter Booth took it home last week.

𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡.
B1G honor for @ccpaigee9 😤

📝: https://t.co/5ZcX4Z6PWg pic.twitter.com/RnwNmkhE8s

— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) October 9, 2023

With the win, the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball program extended their conference match winning streak to 24 and their set winning streak to 21. If they win their next match against Rutgers they will match their best ever start to a season. While they may not sweep both matches, they will certainly be favored to continue their undefeated start.

Up next: UW returns home this weekend for a pair of B1G contests with a Friday night match vs. Rutgers (7 p.m. CT, B1G+) and then a Sunday afternoon tilt with Maryland (1 p.m. CT, B1G+).

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