The Wisconsin Badgers are headed to Iowa this week for another match against an unranked opponent. Badgers volleyball will look to continue their best start to a season since going 16-0 in 2020 and to continue their 15 set winning streak dating back to their reverse sweep against the Florida Gators.
Badgers Volleyball Continues to Impress
The Wisconsin Badgers were ranked No. 1 in the AVCA polls this past week for the sixth straight week. They were also named No. 1 in the first NCAA RPI poll of 2023, and in both polls, they outpace another undefeated team and Big Ten rival in Nebraska. The Badgers, along with Nebraska, are one of the four undefeated teams in the nation.
The Badgers bring their 16-0 record to Iowa to faceoff with the 8-8 Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes are 0-4 in Big Ten play, while Badgers volleyball holds a 22-game win streak in the Big Ten dating back to 2022.
Wisconsin Badgers by the Numbers
With the Hawkeyes being ranked 11th in the Big Ten in hitting percentage, 10th in opponent hitting percentage, 8th in kills, and 11th in blocks, the Badgers are primed to cruise to a win. Badgers volleyball ranks first in the Big Ten in hitting percentage and sixth in the nation. Carter Booth and Anna Smrek led them with a .426 and .418, respectively. That ranks them third and fourth in the Big Ten and 17th and 24th in the nation.
The Badgers have also out-blocked 12 of 13 opponents this season and are tied for 11th in the nation at 3.33 blocks per set. Carter Booth is leading the way with 1.53 blocks per set and is ranked sixth nationally.
Player to Watch
Carter Booth is coming off of being named the Defensive Player of the Week for her performances against Michigan and Ohio State. She had 13 blocks in the two games, and averaged 2.17 blocks per set. She was the reason for the block party going on for the Badgers that brought the team to be second in the Big Ten in blocks. Booth ranks second in the Big Ten in blocks per set.
Hosting the block party in Columbus tonight 🎊 pic.twitter.com/f3iKbmxFGO
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) September 28, 2023
