(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – The No. 6 Wisconsin volleyball team defeated the Milwaukee Panthers in four sets (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15) to wrap up non-conference play at the UW Field House on Friday night.
Freshman Kymora Scott led the Badgers with a career-high 13 kills on a .579 hitting percentage, also chipping in three blocks. Senior Grace Lopez chipped a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs, as Eva Travis and Natalie Wardlow added eight apiece.
Senior Charlie Fuerbringer tallied her sixth double-double of the season with a 54 assist, 16 dig performance. Libero Anna Bardaro added a team-high 17 digs, chipping in three aces from the service line.
A pair of 3-0 runs early in the first set helped Wisconsin to build separation. The Badgers claimed the last eight of nine rallies helped by three kills in a row from Champion to claim the first set, 25-18.
Wisconsin continued the momentum into the second set, opening the frame with a 7-2 run to force a Milwaukee timeout. From there, the Badgers found another 4-0 burst off a trio of kills and an ace turned in by Fuerbringer before Halle Thompson sealed the set with a kill, 25-18. Scott provided consistency in the frame, turning in four kills on four attempts.
The third set opened in similar fashion before Milwaukee mounted a late push, securing the last three rallies to win the set 25-22.
The Badgers found a quick answer in the fourth set thanks to back-to-back service aces from Bardaro. Travis and Scott combined for three kills under a 3-0 serving run from junior Morgan Van Wie to close out the frame, helping lift Wisconsin to victory.
With the win, the Badgers hold to a 4-0 record at the Field House heading into conference play, picking up its 28th win over the Panthers in the process. Wisconsin finished with a hitting percentage of .326 (66-20-141), its second consecutive performance above the .300 mark.
Notes:
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Wisconsin improves to 28-5 all-time and 19-2 in Madison against the Panthers with the 3-1 victory.
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For a second night in a row, the Badgers clipped a .300 or better hitting percentage. Wisconsin hit .326 compared to MKE’s .210.
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Freshman Alyssa Konrad saw time on the court against the Panthers. Konrad served as a serving specialist primarily.
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Setter Charlie Fuerbringer recorded her sixth double-double of the season, 23rd of her career, with a 54 assist, 16 dig performance.
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Also recording a double-double was Grace Lopez, her 18th of her career, and first since December 6, 2024 against SDSU. Lopez tallied 11 kills and 11 digs.
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With 13 kills and three blocks, freshman middle Kymora Scott set new career-highs.
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Wisconsin finishes the non-conference portion of their schedule 6-4.
Up Next: Wisconsin opens conference play for Steve Lowe Night against No. 25 Oregon at the UW Field House on Thursday, Sept. 24. First serve is set for 7 p.m. with the match airing on B1G+.
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