(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – The No. 6 Wisconsin volleyball team took down No. 15 Indiana in five sets (25-19, 25-14, 22-25, 20-25, 15-8) at the UW Field House on Thursday night.
Freshman Audrey Flanagan led Wisconsin on the attack with a match-high 17 kills, also chipping in eight digs and a service ace. Middle blocker Jaela August contributed a season-best 11 kills and two blocks, as Lynney Tarnow and Grace Lopez chipped in six kills each. Tarnow also tallied six blocks on the night.
Junior Charlie Fuerbringer continued to be a table-setter for the Badgers, adding her seventh double-double of the season with a 47 assist, 11 dig performance.
The match opened in a back and forth affair with the two teams trading points. Wisconsin then claimed the last five of six rallies heading into the media timeout to build a 15-11 lead, capped off by a solo block from Flanagan.
The Badgers picked up another 3-0 run late in the set thanks to back-to-back points from Tarnow on a well-placed kill and block, before defensive specialist Kristen Simon turned in a service ace. The momentum continued as UW claimed a 5-0 run under a strong serving run from Simon, before claiming the set 25-19. The Badgers’ presence at the net helped hold Indiana to a .028 hitting percentage heading into the second set.
Wisconsin jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the second frame. Lopez chipped in three points in the process, putting up two kills and an ace. Their momentum continued down the stretch, as a balanced attack helped build a 20-11 lead.
Flanagan provided a spark to cap off the second set, grabbing Wisconsin’s three last points with a triad of kills to seal the set 25-14. The Badgers put up a match-high .586 hitting percentage in that frame, chipping in 18 kills on 29 attempts.
Wisconsin continued to chip away at the Hoosiers into the third set, with a kill from Auguste on the overpass tying the score at 20 apiece. Indiana went on to claim five of the last seven points to seal the third set, 25-22, forcing a fourth set.
The fourth set opened with the Hoosiers controlling much of the tempo, claiming three consecutive 3-0 bursts. The Badgers climbed back with a 6-2 run to cut the Hoosier’s lead down to three, highlighted by a Natalie Wardlow ace, but it fell short as Indiana captured the set, 25-20.
Wardlow continued her strong serving in the fifth set, tallying another ace to pad a 5-2 lead to open the frame. Wisconsin continued its strong form, collecting a 4-0 run on a pair of kills from Tarnow and Wardlow, before a Champion kill sealed the set, 15-8, and lifted Wisconsin to the win.
Wisconsin earned its 20th consecutive win over the Hoosiers, and remain undefeated at the Field House this season. Offensively, the Badgers posted a .302 hitting percentage (55 – 16- 129) and chipped in 10 blocks, holding the Hoosiers to a .222 (63 – 28 – 158) performance.
Notes:
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The five-set thriller victory marks the 20th-straight victory over the Hoosiers. The Badgers improve to 62-24 all-time and 33-9 when playing in Madison.
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The Badgers remain a perfect 6-0 when playing at the UW Field House and 94-8 home record since 2020.
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Freshman Audrey Flanagan had a match-high 17 kills while also hitting .441 (17-2-34).
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Opposite Grace Lopez saw action for the first time since September 18 against Milwaukee. Lopez collected six kills, and added three blocks.
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Setter Charlie Fuerbringer recorded her seventh double-double of the season, 24th of her career, with a 47 assist, 11 dig night.
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Middle blocker Jaela Auguste hit a season-best 11 kills on 19 swings (11-1-19) while also hitting a season-best .526 hitting percentage.
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Defensive specialist Kristen Simon totaled five digs and is just three digs away from career number 500.
Up Next: Wisconsin hits the road to take on No. 20 Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 4. First serve is slated for 5 p.m. with the match airing on Big Ten Network.
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