MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Despite a strong first set, the No. 7 Wisconsin volleyball team lost 25-19, 15-25, 27-25, 25-15, 11-15 to No. 16 Minnesota in the Big Ten opener on Wednesday night.
Sarah Franklin put 21 kills away, a match-high, as the Badgers (6-4, 0-1 B1G) hit just .188 (56 kills – 24 errors – 170 attempts). Anna Smrek and Julia Orzol both finished in double figures with 13 kills each. Minnesota’s Lydia Grote led the Gophers (8-3, 1-0 B1G) with 17 kills, as they hit . 250 (66 – 24 – 168). In addition to Grote’s 17 kills, the Gophers had three additional players with double-digit kills totals for a well-balanced offensive attack.
After a back and forth start to the first set, the Badgers took command at 13-all. A kill from Smrek streamlined a Badger run, which included two kills and an ace from Franklin, as UW led 17-13. Minnesota sided out after that, but Wisconsin ran three more points to take a 20-14 lead. A kill from Charlie Fuerbringer put the set away for UW, winning it 25-19.
Similar to the first set, it was all tied up at 13-all, but Minnesota flipped the script and completely derailed the Badgers. The Gophers went on a 12-2 run to finish the set, 25-15.
After the Badgers scored the first point in the third set, Minnesota took the lead and held onto that lead until UW tied it up at 14-all with a kill from Franklin, and Orzol’s third service ace of the night in the third. Minnesota lined up two kills in a row, but Wisconsin responded with a Franklin kill and an ace from Devyn Robinson as UW took a 17-16 lead. The…
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