The undefeated record rolls on for Wisconsin Badgers volleyball as they bring their 9-0 record to Illinois to match up against Northwestern Friday night. This marks the opening of their Big Ten play on the season, where they’ve dominated the non-conference play and have defeated each ranked opponent they’ve come up against. They’ve remained No. 1 ranked by the AVCA polls since the first week of the season and will set out to continue that trend.
The Comeback Kids, Wisconsin Badgers Volleyball
This year’s story so far has been the Badgers’ ability to come back and win their matches. Their win over No. 3 Florida, a win at Arkansas, and their win at Marquette were all in the comeback fashion. Their win against the Florida Gators was in dramatic fashion, sweeping the final three sets to take home the victory and remain undefeated.
Wisconsin Badgers volleyball is riding an 18-match Big Ten winning streak that dates back to the 2022 season, and they’re favorites to win their fifth-straight conference title this season. Their 9-0 record is the best since 2020-2021, when they started 16-0, and they’re one of six teams in Division I that are still undefeated. It’s no wonder they have the No. 1 ranking, as they’ve shown flashes of dominance in the early part of the season.
Why stop now. pic.twitter.com/hKtGWJUp9G
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) September 21, 2023
Currently, the Badgers rank 2nd in points in the Big Ten, behind Indiana at 17.69 points per set. Their .295 hitting percentage is just behind Nebraska’s .299 after they were held down in their match against the Florida Gators. They lead in kills at 13.77 per set and assists at 12.89 per set.
Player to Watch
Junior Anna Smrek didn’t let the ace-queen Izzy Ashburn or the 1,000th career kill of Sarah Franklin get in her way of having a great week and a decent overall season. She led the Badgers against the Gators with 16 kills and tied for the honors against Marquette with 15. She’s currently 6th in the Big Ten in hitting percentage and seems to be on the rise.
