Serving up six: Wisconsin heads to Kentucky for two matches

        
MADISON, Wis. — Sixth-ranked Wisconsin (3-1) continues its tough non-conference schedule, traveling to No. 16 Kentucky (4-1) for two matches this weekend. UW takes on the Wildcats on Friday at 5 p.m. CT from Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. The match airs live on ESPNU and can be heard in the Madison area on WIBA 1310AM. The Badgers wrap up the weekend by facing Campbell (2-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m. That match will be streamed on ESPN+ and can also be heard on FoxSports 1070.

1. ANOTHER RANKED TEAM: The Badgers face their third ranked team of the season when they travel to No. 14 Kentucky this Friday. Wisconsin is 1-1 against ranked teams, falling to then-No. 16 Baylor, 3-2, on Aug. 27 and downing No. 24 Marquette, 3-1, on Sept. 2. Wisconsin has a tough schedule in 2022, playing 16 matches against teams ranked or receiving votes in the current AVCA poll. During the non-conference season, Wisconsin faces No. 14 Kentucky, No. 16 Florida, No. 15 Baylor and No. 23 Marquette. In Big Ten play, Wisconsin will play 12 matches against teams ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll.

2. WHAT A COMEBACK: Wisconsin wrapped up last weekend with a 2-0 record, edging No. 24 Marquette, 3-1, on Friday and sweeping High Point on Sunday. The Badgers rallied from an eight-point deficit in the third set, including a 6-0 run, against the Golden Eagles. Marquette led most of the third set before Wisconsin slowly turned the game around. MU led by eight points (13-5) and maintained a seven-point lead at 17-10 before UW began its comeback. A 6-0 run tied the set at 18 and the score was tied three more times, including at 21, before two Devyn Robinson kills completed the comeback.

3. GREAT GULCE: Freshman Gulce Guctekin turned up her defensive play last weekend, recording a career-high 14 digs vs. Marquette before upping that to 17 digs vs. High Point. The 5-foot-5 libero averaged 4.43 digs per set on the weekend. She also added career highs of six assists and three service aces against the Panthers.

4. IMPRESSIVE STATS: Wisconsin hit a season-high .421 against High Point with 41 kills on 76 attempts with only nine errors. The Badgers also held the Panthers to an opponent season-low negative .074 (16-22-81). UW got its offense on track over the weekend, averaging 14.71 kills per set while hitting .308. 

5. THE…