(UW COMMUNICATIONS) WACO, TX – For the second night in a row, the No. 6 Wisconsin volleyball team found themselves in a race to 15 in the fifth set. And for the second night in a row, the Badgers came out on top, as they defeated No. 23 Baylor 25-18, 25-14, 18-25, 22-25, 16-14 in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge.
Back-to-back aces from Julia Orzol in the first set put Wisconsin (2-3) ahead 7-5, followed by a kill from Sarah Franklin streamlined an 8-1 run for Wisconsin to take a 12-6 lead. Baylor (5-1) strung together three kills in a row as they began to creep back. Baylor brought it back within two at 14-12, but UW pushed ahead by five and maintained a strong lead to take the first set 25-18.
After falling behind early in the second set, the Badgers went on a 6-0 scoring run, fueled by three kills from Robinson and a kill from Carter Booth. The Badgers didn’t look back from there and dominated the rest of the set, winning 25-14.
A kill from Caroline Crawford ended a 4-0 Baylor run as the Bears led 9-7 early in the third set. UW rallied to tie it up at 10-all, after Lola Schumacher recorded her first career kill to make it 10-9. The teams then went point for point. Baylor distanced themselves with two UW hitting errors and a service ace of their own, as they took a 19-16 lead. They only allowed two more Wisconsin points, taking the third set 25-18.
In a must win set for Baylor, the Bears came from behind after the Badgers took an early 4-2 lead. Baylor grabbed a 12-9 lead, but kills from Robinson and Orzol along with an ace from Gulce Guctekin tied it at 13-all. Wisconsin brought it within one at two different instances, but it was Baylor who came out on top, 25-22 to force a fifth set.
Baylor took the lead out the gate in the fifth and final set, but Wisconsin kept themselves within striking distance. Baylor didn’t trail until Guctekin’s third service ace of the night, to put the Badger’s ahead, 15-14. Wisconsin went on a 5-0 run to finish out the match, as Franklin sealed the deal with a kill to clinch the 16-14 victory.
Co-captains Robinson and Franklin set the pace offensively, both tallying 19 kills. Collectively, the Badgers hit .267 (67 kills – 21 errors – 172 attempts).
Elise McGhee led the Bears with 15 kills, as Baylor finished the night hitting .208 (56 -19 178).
Wisconsin tallied seven service aces, including three from Guctekin and two each from Schumacher and Orzol. Wisconsin also recorded 14 service errors, however. In her second career start at libero, Schumacher also put up a match-high 27 digs.
Charlie Fuerbringer finished with 51 assists and 12 digs, for her third double-double of the season. Franklin added 14 digs to go along with her 19 kills, for her 29th career double-double.
Baylor outblocked UW 10.0 – 8.0. Carter Booth had a team-high six total blocks.
Notes to know
- For a second match in a row, both Julia Orzol (15) and Lola Schumacher (27) recorded double-digit kills.
- Outside hitter Sarah Franklin has now tallied double-digit kills in all five matches so far this season.
- Schumacher also recorded her first collegiate kill and tallied a career-best, match-high 27 digs.
- Opposite Devyn Robinson collected a season-best 19 kills.
- Junior Carter Booth had a season best 12 kills.
- Freshman setter Charlie Fuerbringer recorded her third double-double with 51 assists and 12 digs.
- The 51 assists also marks a career-best for Fuerbringer.
- With 19 kills and 14 digs, Franklin now has 29 career double-doubles.
Up next
The Badgers will open up their home season, hosting Milwaukee at the UW Field House on Tuesday night. The match is set to start at 7 pm
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