MADISON, Wis. — Third-ranked Wisconsin (19-3, 13-1 B1G) wraps up its regular-season home schedule with two matches this weekend. The Badgers host Rutgers (8-18, 2-12) on Friday at 7 p.m. before Maryland (14-12, 5-9) comes to town on Saturday for a 7 p.m. first serve. Both matches will be streamed live on B1G+.
1. CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS: UW celebrates Senior Night on Saturday, recognizing Shanel Bramschreiber, Joslyn Boyer, Liz Gregorski, Danielle Hart, and Anna MacDonald in a post-match ceremony.
2. WINNING STREAK CONTINUES: Wisconsin extended its winning streak to 12 matches with two wins last week. The Badgers swept Illinois on the road before downing Indiana, 3-1. The active win streak ties for ninth on the UW record list and 10th nationally. UW has also won 12 straight home Big Ten matches and is undefeated in the UW Field House this season at 12-0.
3. SMREK STEPS UP: Against Indiana, junior Caroline Crawford missed the first match of her collegiate career with a hand injury. Sophomore Anna Smrek started in place of Crawford at middle blocker. Smrek had nine kills, five blocks, hit .533, and recorded her first career service ace against the Hoosiers.
4. ASHBURN WITH THE ACE: Senior Izzy Ashburn is one of the best Badger servers ever, moving up to fourth with 147 career service aces. She needs seven aces to move into third, a position currently held by Susan Wohlford (1988-91) with 154 service aces.
5. STOPPING OPPONENTS: The Badgers held Illinois to a .065 (34-27-107) team hitting percentage, the lowest by a Big Ten opponent this season. On the season, foes hit just .152, which ranks ninth nationally and second in the Big Ten.
6. WISCONSIN IN THE POLLS: Wisconsin remains third in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches’ Poll released Monday. The Big Ten leads the poll with six teams in the top 25 and two teams receiving votes. Wisconsin has been ranked in the AVCA national poll for 147 consecutive polls, including the last 50 straight polls in the top 10. UW dropped two places to seventh in the NCAA RPI released Monday. The Badgers are the third Big Ten team in the RPI, which features seven conference teams in the top 30.
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