MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The No. 2 Wisconsin volleyball team opened up the 2023 season with a 25-20, 25-14, 20-25, 25-17 win over No. 15 Baylor Friday evening in Minneapolis at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge.
The Badgers were led by the outside hitter duo of Sarah Franklin and Temi Thomas-Ailara. After being sidelined this summer, Franklin made her return and led the team with 13 kills. Additionally, Thomas-Ailara started her time off with the Badgers with a bang, going for 12 kills and hitting .500 with no errors.
Devyn Robinson and Anna Smrek both added eight kills. Carter Booth and Caroline Crawford rounded the hitters out in the middle with six and four kills, respectively.
As a team, Wisconsin hit .344 (52-10-122) and held Baylor to .117 (47-21-120). Kyndal Stowers led the Bears with 14 kills while Elise McGhee added 11 kills.
Julia Orzol got a look at a new position in this match, starting at libero. She finished the match with 11 digs, and led the team with two service aces.Thomas-Ailara also added two service aces. Baylor had the edge over Wisconsin in digs, 52-44.
The Badgers outblocked the Bears 8.0 to 5.0 with four blocks apiece from Caroline Crawford and Anna Smrek. Izzy Ashburn led the Badgers in assists with 22 and MJ Hammill added 18 helpers..Ashburn picked up a double-double, adding 10 digs.
The first set was tight as the teams battled back and forth through 10…
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