Wisconsin volleyball heads into a ranked showdown against No. 19 Penn State undefeated in Big Ten play and with only one loss overall on the season. The lone loss came against Texas on August 31 during the Opening Spike Classic. It didn't derail them, however, as they now find themselves on a ten game winning streak and atop the Big Ten.
Since the Texas game, in which they were swept in three sets, Wisconsin has gone on to lose only one set in ten games. This dominance is due in large part to Wisconsin’s defensive prowess, which has been led by senior middle blocker Carter Booth. Booth leads the way in blocks with 56 total blocks, along with an average of 1.47 blocks per set.
To complement their great defense, Wisconsin has also been very efficient with its offense. Senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer and sophomore setter Charlie Fuerbringer are the driving force behind this electric offense. Colyer leads the way in kills for the team with 205, while Fuerbringer leads the way in assists with 393.
Fuerbringer is a quintessential part of this offense, with her stats representing the big contribution she has made so far. She is currently ranked second in the nation in average assists per set.
On Sunday against Michigan, however, Fuerbringer left the game with a shoulder injury. There is currently no timetable for her return. This is a massive blow for a Wisconsin team with major postseason aspirations. Fuerbringer is a leader on and off the court, and the Badgers will now need to rely on true freshman Addy Horner to fill in that gap.
Wisconsin has also been without starter Grace Egan for the past few games, who was a major force to be reckoned with on offense. Wisconsin has been able to succeed without her, but they will need her back to compete against the Big Ten’s strongest teams as they work deeper into their schedule.
Both injuries are devastating, as there are only eight weeks left in the regular season. Egan is predicted to return soon, with the possibility of her playing against Penn State. But Fuerbringer’s timetable is much more uncertain, with the possibility of her being out until November.
As Wisconsin heads into the final stretch of the season, with many ranked opponents remaining on their schedule, including No. 1 Nebraska, they will need to continue to perform at a high level. The main points of focus for Wisconsin going forward will be to make sure Horner is able to acclimate to the starting lineup quickly, ensure Egan doesn’t lose a step due to her injury and have Booth continue her dominance on defense.
With plenty of games yet to be played, there is time for Wisconsin to get over these bumps and continue its stellar season.
