Serving up six: Badgers wrap up spring season

MADISON, Wis.  – The Wisconsin volleyball team wraps up the 2023 spring season with a match against Big Ten-foe Purdue at Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana, on Sunday. First serve is at 1 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed live on YouTube.

1. ATHLETES UNLIMITED RECAP: The Badgers continued their season with a tough 3-1 loss against the Athletes Unlimited professional team on April 5, making them 1-1 on the spring season. Former Badger Sydney Hilley returned to the Field House, setting AU to the victory with 36 assists and adding 17 digs. Wisconsin scored on eight service aces while giving up just two aces while outblocking Athletes Unlimited 16-15.

2. BLOCKING BADGERS: Wisconsin has out-blocked its two opponents. 28-18. this spring, averaging 4.0 blocks per set. The Badgers out-blocked Marquette 12-3 and Athletes Unlimited 16-15. Freshman Carter Booth leads the team with 2.14 blocks per set while middle blocker Gabby McCaa adds 1.71 blocks per set. Junior Devyn Robinson (1.43) and sophomore Anna Smrek (1.43) both have 10 blocks this spring.

3. SERVING UP ACES: UW is also serving well this spring, scoring 14 service aces, averaging 2.0 aces per set. Juniors Sydney Reed and MJ Hammill both have three aces this spring while Izzy Ashburn and Liz Gregorski both add two aces.

4. BALANCED OFFENSE: The Badgers have shown their balanced offense this spring with five players averaging 1.5-or-more kills per set. Sophomore Julia Orzol leads the team with 3.29 kills per set while junior Devyn Robinson adds 2.57 kills per set. Freshman Carter Booth chips in 2.43 kills per set while sophomore Anna Smrek (1.71 kills per set) and senior Liz Gregorski (1.57) also contribute offensively. 

5. SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS: The Purdue Boilermakers finished their 2022 season with a 21-11 record (11-9 BIG/6th) and competed into the second round of the NCAA tournament, falling to the national runner-up, Louisville. Purdue was led by Eva Hudson, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, averaging 4.23 kills per set. Junior Raven Colvin ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 1.45 blocks per set. 

6. FOLLOW ALONG: The entire match will be streamed live here.  Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the inside scoop throughout the match @BadgerVB.