The No. 1 ranked Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team continued their string of games by defeating Miami in 3 straight sets at the UW Field House on Friday evening. The scores were reflective of a dominant performance: 25-11, 25-23, 25-15. The sweep reflects just how the Badgers are dominating and should continue to remain No. 1 in the nation.
Took care of business tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/lQwFM0sMI9
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) September 9, 2023
Tone set for a Win by Badgers Volleyball
The Badgers set the tone from the outset, cruising through the first set. Sarah Franklin and Temi Thomas-Ailara contributed significantly with three kills each, while CC Crawford’s 5-0 service run boosted the team to a 12-6 lead. Miami managed a short reprieve, but Wisconsin retaliated with another 5-0 serving streak, led by Izzy Ashburn, further sealing Miami’s fate in the opening set.
However, the second set saw Miami regroup, resulting in a closely contested battle featuring 18 ties and six lead changes. But the formidable duo of Thomas-Ailara and Franklin proved too much for Miami. With the scores level at 20-20, the Badgers, propelled by consecutive kills, inched ahead and clinched the set, 25-23.
The final set was an intense affair until a pivotal 6-0 serving run by MJ Hammill distanced the Badgers from the Canes, leading to a 25-15 set and match victory.
Head coach Kelly Sheffield lauded his team’s performance, saying, “”We were clean tonight. There’s not a lot of errors across the board. That’s what you like to see.”
He was asked about the difference between the Hurricanes and the game from the night before against Arizona Wildcats: “The tempo of the team we played last night was a lot higher, the sets were a lot higher. And tonight they were a lot flatter and a lot faster, which is very, very different for the blockers and for the defense. I thought one thing with their speed, we neutralized their speed with our serve. We had their setters.”
The Wisconsin Badgers by the Numbers
Statistically, the Badgers registered another game over .300 with a .341 hitting percentage. Thomas-Ailara secured a match-high of 12 kills. Those 12 kills tied a season-high for her.
BANG 💥 @temi_t_ pic.twitter.com/DjPpVDWASs
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) September 9, 2023
On the other hand, Miami struggled with a .076 attacking percentage. Defensively, the Badgers out-blocked Miami 8.0 to 4.0. All around, the Badgers volleyball team was able to hold down the Hurricanes.
Sarah Franklin ended the night with only 9 kills, breaking her streak of double-digit kills and falling just short of the 1,000 kill mark for her career.
The Wisconsin Badgers will bring their undefeated record to Milwaukee to play No. 24 Marquette on Wednesday.
