The No. 8 Wisconsin volleyball team split results at the Opening Spike Classic, beating No.14 Kansas Friday while falling to No. 5 Texas Sunday in one of the first glimpses of a Badger team looking to rebuild with 10 new players this season.
“This is a good chance for us to go through the tough together,” outside hitter Mimi Colyer said after their loss to Texas. “Go through this first loss and see how we are going to bounce back in the gym, how we’re going to come back to our next practice and implement the changes.”
Kansas
Wisconsin won the first, third and fifth sets against Kansas, losing the second 25-18 and the fourth 28-26. Five sets proved to be what the Badgers needed to show their ability.
“This tournament, right at the beginning of the season, is meant to tell us exactly where we are,” senior middle blocker Carter Booth said regarding the two-game split.
Outside hitters Una Vajagic and Colyer, middle blocker Alicia Andrew, setter Charlie Fuerbringer and libero/defensive specialist Kristen Simon led the Badgers in game one with double-doubles. Their success in a range of positions is what allowed Wisconsin to be both offensively and defensively successful against Kansas.
Fuerbringer, one of the most anticipated breakout players on the court this season, earned her 11th double-double with 45 assists and 20 digs.
After redshirting freshman year due to injury, Vajagic earned a career high in kills (13) and digs (14) in her first collegiate match.
In the back row, freshman Kristen Simon recorded 23 digs and 10 assists for her first double-double. This was Simon’s first collegiate game and a Badger-best record for digs and assists.
Senior Alicia Andrew beat her personal record of seven blocks in one game with a 10-block count against Kansas.
Texas
Wisconsin was able to gain some advantages in game two of the Opening Spike Classic, but the Badgers ended up falling to No. 5 Texas in three sets.
Sophomore outside hitter Grace Egan, Colyer and Vajagic put up strong stats in this game, posting a combined total of 40 kills, 26 digs and three blocks. Egan reached her first double-double at Wisconsin with 12 digs and 16 kills. Colyer also reached 1,500 career kills.
Texas competed successfully on the offensive-front, forcing Wisconsin to end with a low hitting percentage (.141) compared to the Longhorns (.296).
Wisconsin will be back in the Field House Thursday, Sept. 4, to compete against UC Davis at 7 p.m.
