MADISON, Wis. — Wrapping up a three-match road streak, the No. 9 Wisconsin volleyball team (7-4, 1-1 B1G) will play at Rutgers (5-8, 0-2 B1G) on Wednesday night. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network.
1. LAST TIME OUT: After dropping the first Big Ten match of the season to No. 16 Minnesota on Wednesday night, the Badger rebounded nicely with a sweep at Northwestern on Saturday night. En route to a 25-16, 25-16, 25-15 sweep, UW had an efficient evening at the net. As a team, the Badgers hit .413 with three players hitting over .500.
2. STILL HERE!: The Badgers check in at No. 9 this week in the AVCA poll. Pitt still sits atop, and yet to drop a set this season. Big Ten foe, Nebraska, is at Pitt’s heels at No. 2. Penn State is right behind the Cornhuskers at No. 3. Purdue remains in the Top 10, right below the Badgers at No. 10. The Oregon Ducks are knocking at the door at No. 11.
3. DUAL THREAT: For the first time since Badger great Sydney Hilley, freshman Charlie Fuerbringer not only dishes out points, but can score for herself as well. The five-foot-eleven setter chips in with .69 kills per set, and has reached a season-best five against Stanford. Fuerbringer has tallied kills in all but one match she has played in this season.
4. THE TANK IS READY FOR BATTLE : Fifth year senior Sarah Franklin has recorded double-digit kills in all but two matches in 2024. She has totaled five matches of 20 or more kills, including a career-high 33 kills against Marquette. The outside hitter leads the Big Ten and ranks 12 in the NCAA with 4.51 kills per set.
5. YOU GOTTA CC SEE THIS: CC Crawford is quietly one of the best current blockers in the NCAA. In the active career list, Crawford ranks second amongst all Division I athletes with 569 total career blocks. Dacie Rewerts from the University of Northern Iowa sits atop at 580 blocks.
6. SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS: The Badgers have yet to drop a match to Rutgers in the two teams’ history, dating back to 2014, when the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten. Rutgers hold a 5-8 overall record thus far, with an 0-2 record in conference play. Both losses in Big Ten play have been five setters, against Michigan and Iowa. The Scarlet Knights’ outside hitter, Alissa Kinkela, is coming off a big week, becoming the first-ever Rutgers…
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