Serving up six: Badgers hit the road again

MADISON, Wis. — No. 1 Wisconsin (14-0, 5-0 B1G) wraps up its two-match road swing on Saturday, taking on Illinois (7-8, 2-3) at 6 p.m. from Huff Hall. The match streams live on B1G+.

1. STACKING UP WINS: UW is on a school-record 23-match Big Ten winning streak, dating back to the 2022 season, including a 16-match conference winning streak in the Field House. The Badgers are also on an 18-set winning stretch, which is tied for second-longest set winning streak in the nation this year.

2. STEPPING UP: Junior Anna Smrek has hit better than .500 in the last three matches, hitting .526 (21-1-38) over the stretch. The 6-foot-9 right-side hitter is averaging 2.33 kills per set while upping her blocking to 1.22 blocks per set over the three matches.

3. HAMMER TIME: UW has hit better than .300 in 10 of 14 matches this season, leading the Big Ten and ranking sixth nationally at .308. In conference-only matches, Wisconsin ranks second in the Big Ten, hitting .342. Wisconsin has four of the top hitters in Big Ten-only matches based on hitting percentage. Junior Anna Smrek ranks second at .462 while sophomore Carter Booth sits fifth at .396. Seniors Devyn Robinson (.371) and Sarah Franklin (.360) rank seventh and 10th, respectively.



4. BADGER BRICK WALL: ​​The Badgers have outblocked 13-of-14 opponents this season while tying one foe, ranking 11th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 2.80 blocks per set. In Big Ten matches, UW leads the conference with 3.13 blocks per set. Sophomore Carter Booth, who was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, leads the Big Ten in conference-only matches with 1.87 blocks per set.

5. ACE ACE BABY: After the four Big Ten matches, the Badgers lead the conference with 2.40 aces per set. Junior Julia Orzoł leads the Big Ten with 0.60 aces per set. The 6-foot libero tied her career high three service aces at Iowa on Wednesday. Senior Caroline Crawford ties for fifth with 0.47 aces per set.

6. TEMI TIME!: Grad student Temi Thomas-Ailara has turned up her offense over the last three matches, putting away 10 kills in each contest averaging 3.33 kills per set while hitting .306. On the season, the 6-foot-2 outside hitter ranks fourth on the team with 2.34 kills per set while hitting .222.