No. 5 Wisconsin beat No. 17 Florida on Wednesday and Auburn on Thursday.
Both games were a back-and-forth battle, showcasing how the Badgers are able to step up when tensions are high.
Flanagan’s kills win the home-opener
The Badgers (3-3) opened up Wisconsin Field House on Wednesday and defeated the Gators (2-1) in a thrilling five set match.
“We hadn’t been in a five-setter,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said after the win. “But no panic happened from anybody or the team or the staff. It was just let's keep working this and working it and we’re rewarded with a great win.”
Wisconsin is now 4-2 all-time against Florida.
Freshman outside hitter Audrey Flanagan led Wisconsin with a career-high of 18 kills. Senior outside hitter Grace Egan recorded 17 of her own, followed by freshman middle blocker Lynney Tarnow with 16.
After a back-and-forth start, the Badgers were able to pull away slightly in the first set and went on a 4-0 run highlighted by two kills from Flanagan.
Florida stayed close behind throughout the set, but Tarnow was able to finish it off with a kill and seal the first set 25-21.
The Gators fought back in set two and went on a 4-0, gaining some momentum. The Badgers trailed closely, but faced some trouble offensively and could not catch up.
An attack error from Flanagan closed out set two for Florida 25-20, tying up the match.
The Badgers jumped out early to begin set three, with three kills right away to go up 3-0. Egan stepped up later in the set, earning three kills and a service ace during a solo 4-1 run.
A pair of kills from Flanagan allowed Wisconsin to close out set three 25-19, taking a 2-1 lead.
Florida recovered in set four, forcing four Badger errors to go up 5-0 in the start of the set. The Gators continued to pull ahead before the Badgers went on a 5-0 run of their own — led by three kills from Flanagan — to bring Wisconsin within two points.
A pair of kills from Egan and Flanagan tied up the score late in the set, bringing the Badgers within two points of taking the match. Florida managed to put up a fight and won the set 26-24 due to a bad set from Wisconsin.
Tensions were high as Badger fans filled the arena with cheers, with both teams preparing for this win-or-go-home set.
The Badgers bounced back right away, responding with a 6-1 run to set off the fifth set. With the game on the line, a few Wisconsin errors allowed for Florida to mount their comeback and tied the score at 13.
Another kill from Flanagan and a Florida attack error sealed the nail-bitting match for Wisconsin with a final score of 15-13.
Badger offenses takes control against Auburn
Wisconsin got the ball rolling immediately on Thursday night against Auburn (2-1), with a kill from freshman outside hitter Halle Thompson to spark a 7-2 run. Thompson went on to lead the Badgers in kills for the night with 11 total, while also recording 11 digs to mark the freshman's first career double-double.
The Badgers kept their lead for most of the set before the Tigers landed a pair of kills and an ace to tie the scoring at 23.
An Auburn service error from outside hitter Anastasija Ivkovic gave the Badgers a chance to close out the first set. Flanagan sealed the deal, recording a kill to end set one 25-23.
Set two started similarly with Wisconsin starting out on top. Auburn fought back and they traded points back-and-forth.
A pair of kills from Tarnow and Thompson in the middle of the set started a 7-0 run, allowing the Badgers to pull ahead. Wisconsin continued showcasing their strong offense, tallying 18 kills throughout the set and a .517 hitting percentage.
A kill from Flanagan closed out the second set 25-17 for the Badgers.
Both teams continued to battle hard in the third set, each fighting for the lead. A 6-1 run — highlighted by four kills from Senior Eva Travis — gave Wisconsin a bit of a gap nearing the end of the set. Thompson finished it off for the Badgers, with a kill of her own to end set three 25-20 and complete the sweep.
“Last night was long, it was late, it was emotional,” Sheffield said after the game. “We were changing some things around with the roster and got stronger as the match went on.”
Wisconsin will travel to Texas to take on No. 8 Texas A&M on Sept. 11. Though they are currently 5-0 against the Aggies, a win for the Badgers may not come easily. Wisconsin must be quick on defense in order to stop Texas A&M’s fast offensive transitions.
Wisconsin will then face off No. 2 Texas on Sept. 13. The two teams last met in 2025, with the Badgers coming out on top in a tight four set match. Wisconsin may be able to pull off an upset by relying on their strong attackers and offensive chemistry.
