The No. 10 Wisconsin volleyball team stormed past Big Ten opponents Northwestern and No. 19 Minnesota to finalize regular season play. The Badgers showed improvements defensively, tallying 27 blocks and 102 digs in the week.
Northwestern
Wisconsin defeated Northwestern in four sets during a road match at Welsh-Ryan arena on Nov. 26. (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22). Outside hitter Mimi Colyer led the Badgers with 20 kills for the night. Colyer also recorded double-digit numbers in digs.
The Badgers got started quickly Wednesday night,jumping to a 14-4 lead provided by three service aces and kills around the court. While Northwestern made a short run to catch up near the end of the set, Colyer executed two kills to push Wisconsin ahead.
Outside hitter Grace Egan played strong for Wisconsin in the second set, racking up seven points off of kills.
Wisconsin’s offensive attack kept the Badgers ahead of Northwestern during the second set, but the Wildcats were able to narrow the gap as the set advanced.A few attack and service errors from Wisconsin, followed by successful kills from Northwestern put the teams within two points of one another.
The Badgers were able to maintain their lead however, and set two ended 25-22 for Wisconsin. In the third set, the Badgers continued to commit errors that allowed Northwestern to challenge Wisconsin throughout the set. The Wildcats were able to obtain a 5-3 lead to begin the set.
Outside hitter Madison Quest stepped up for the Badgers, recording three kills in the set — two early on to give Wisconsin the momentum they needed to take the lead.
The Badgers remained ahead for the middle section of the set, but fell behind as a result of attack errors. Northwestern pushed ahead to win set three 20-25. Wisconsin broke their 15-straight set win streak as a result of their set three stumble.
While set four remained close between both teams, the Badgers completed a five-point run late into the set to secure their win.
Outside hitter Una Vajagic tallied seven kills in this final set, three consecutively during that five-point run that put the Badgers up 18-13. Vajagic ended the night with a .526 hitting percentage, two service aces and 11 kills.
The Wildcats attempted to regain control of the set, and the teams came within one point of each other. However, Wisconsin won the game by scoring two of the final three points with a kill from Colyer and a block from both Carter Booth and Colyer.
Minnesota
Wisconsin swept rival Minnesota in a three set game in Minneapolis to pick up their ninth-straight victory. Booth and Vajagic performed well, each recording 12 kills, with Booth tallying three blocks and Vajagic securing a service ace in the victory.
The game was the Badgers’ first win in Minnesota since 2021. Wisconsin also defeated the Gophers on Nov. 5 at the Field House, completing the season sweep.
While all three sets were won by seven points or more, Minnesota made Wisconsin earn each set victory. In set one, the Badgers didn’t pull ahead until halfway through.
A kill from Booth and two service aces from Colyer provided Wisconsin a 15-10 lead. Minnesota fought back with a run of their own, before Wisconsin shut them down with a final 8-0 run. Vajagic and Alicia Andrew brought in two kills to seal the set for Wisconsin.
The Badgers and Gophers battled it out again in the second set, neither team outrunning the other. Egan managed to tally all-around points for Wisconsin in the set recording a service ace, a block and a kill.
Colyer and Vajagic closed out the set for Wisconsin with a kill and service ace, putting the Badgers ahead 2-0.In set three, Wisconsin dominated the pace of the set with 20 total kills. Booth recorded her season best in kills with 12 against the Gophers. She tallied two of those kills in the final four points for the Badgers.
Wisconsin pulled further ahead of Minnesota to earn their largest set victory of the night, completing the sweep 25-17.
The Badgers finished the game with a hitting percentage of .385, tallying only 10 errors on 52 kills.
“This was the best match we played all year defensively…The range that they were making plays at, hard-driven balls, it was a lot of really good stuff,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said.
Wisconsin’s ability to play strong defensively and convert those plays to points sets them apart from most Big Ten competition, leading to Wisconsin receiving a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship Tournament.
