Serving up six: Badgers travel to Maryland, No. 19 Penn State

MADISON, Wis. — No. 2 Wisconsin (22-1, 13-1 B1G) countdown the regular with just six matches remaining, including the next four matches on the road. The Badgers travel to Maryland (15-11, 5-9) on Friday. First serve is at 6 p.m. CT on B1G+ from the XFinity Center Pavilion in College Park, Maryland. UW takes on No. 19 Penn State (15-8, 9-5) on Saturday from Rec Hall in University Park, Pennsylvania. The match airs live on the Big Ten Network at 7 p.m. CT.

1. WINNING WAYS:  Wisconsin has opened the second half of Big Ten play undefeated at 4-0. UW has won at least 22 matches for the 10th straight season (excluding 2020-21 due to COVID). UW has lost only four sets this Big Ten season—a 3-2 loss to then-No. 2 Nebraska on Oct. 21, and a second-set loss to No. 19 Purdue on Nov. 1.

2. B1G HONORS: Sophomore Carter Booth was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after tallying 17 blocks over two matches for 2.43 blocks per set. The 6-foot-7 middle blocker had a season-high 10 blocks vs. Illinois on Saturday and added 7 blocks vs. Purdue. She also added 2.29 kills per set while hitting .406.

3. BREAKING BLOCKING RECORDS: The Badgers recorded a three-set school record with 17 blocks vs. Illinois on Sunday. That broke the previous record of 16 blocks set twice before, most recently vs. Lipscomb in 2017. Carter Booth recorded a season-high 10 blocks, which ties for second on the UW single-match record list.



4. STUFFING OPPONENTS: Wisconsin outblocked Illinois, 17-2 on Saturday, marking the 22nd opponent this season that it has outblocked. The Badgers have more than doubled-up more than doubling up 13 foes in team blocks. UW is averaging 2.98 blocks per set while allowing only 1.48 blocks per set.

5. BACK & BETTER THAN EVER: Following its only loss of the season at Nebraska on Oct. 21, the Badgers have upped their hitting to .343% (184-44-408) over the last four matches. UW is also averaging 14.15 kills, 13.31 assists, 13.54 digs and 3.69 blocks per set.

6. OUR FEARLESS LEADER: Head coach Kelly Sheffield has 170 Big Ten wins at Wisconsin, tying former head coach Pete Waite (1999-2012) for the most conference wins in program history.