Badgers Sweep High Point

MADISON, Wis. – A dominating performance led the sixth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team to a 25-10, 25-11, 25-14 win over High Point at the Field House on Sunday.
 
Sophomore Sarah Franklin led Wisconsin (3-1) in kills, racking up 14, while Devyn Robinson tallied 11. Both Badgers hit over .500 in their attack with Robinson leading all players at .588 (11 kills – 1 error – 17 attempts) while Franklin hit a career best .545 (14-2-22).
 
As a team, UW hit a season-high .421 (41-9-76) while holding High Point (4-2) to an opponent season-low negative .074 (16-12-81) hitting percentage. 

Wisconsin’s new 6-2 offense continues to improve as senior Izzy Ashburn put up 19 assists while junior MJ Hammill added 13 helpers.

Freshman Gulce Guctekin stepped up for the Badgers in the backcourt, recording a match-high and personal best 17 digs while also leading the team in aces with three. The Badgers finished with a 40-23 advantage in digs and a 7-1 edge in service aces.
 
With Wisconsin’s high-powered offense and impressive blocking, the Badgers were able to dominate the match. The Badgers unblocked the Panthers 8 -1.  Danielle Hart led the team in blocks, putting up five stuffs.  Franklin, Robinson and Caroline Crawford each contributed three stops.

Straight from the court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield
“It’s a lot of new pieces, a lot of people that haven’t played with the people next to them… we continue to communicate better” 
 
Coach Kelly Sheffield on Gulce Guctekin
“I see a server that’s serving with a lot of confidence. She’s not just trying to keep balls in play, she’s putting pressure on them” 
 
Sarah Franklin
“Progress is not a straight line and we are willing to accept those harder matches, those harder challenges where you’re not at the top of your game.”

Notes to know

• Redshirt junior Liz Gregorski scored her first career service ace.
• Redshirt sophomore Sarah Franklin hit career high .545, putting away a match-high 14 kills on 22 attempts with only two errors.
• Freshman Gulce Guctekin saved a career-high 17 digs. The 5-foot-5 libero also had a career-high six assists and three service aces.
• Freshman Ella Wrobel tied her career best with one kill.
• Junior Sydney Reed saw her first action for the Badgers this season, serving the final two points of the second set.
• Wisconsin hit a season-high .421 as a team with 41 kills on 76 attempts with only nine errors. The Badgers also held High Point to an opponent season-low negative .074 (16 kills – 22 errors – 81 attempts).

Up Next

The Badgers travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to face No. 16 Kentucky on Friday at 5 p.m. The match will be shown live on ESPNU and heard on WIBA 1310AM. Wisconsin also takes on Campbell on Saturday at 1 p.m. while in Kentucky.