Wisconsin volleyball blocks distractions, Michigan State to score Senior Night win

MADISON – The Wisconsin volleyball team was doubly good at blocking Saturday night.

The Badgers not only ignored the distraction of the impending NCAA Tournament, but they also rejected Michigan State’s upset bid with one of their best blocking matches of the season.

UW finished with 17 blocks in the 25-19, 26-28, 25-19, 25-18  win, its second-best match of the season in that statistical category. Twelve of those blocks came during the final two sets when Wisconsin held the Spartans to their lowest hitting percentages of the match.

The victory allowed seventh-ranked Wisconsin to finish the regular season with a 23-6 record and Big Ten with a mark of 17-3, which placed them in third place two games behind Big Ten co-champions Nebraska and Penn State.

The win also sent the team’s six seniors out on a high note – the program honored each of them after the match.

Up next is the NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be revealed at 5 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

“This is the time of year where dreams come true and we’re certainly looking forward to trying to climb that moutain,” UW coach Kelly Sheffield said.

Senior outside hitters Sarah Franklin and Julia Orzol finished the night 1-2 in kills with 23 and 13, respectively. Franklin posted with a .316 hitting percentage and a season-high five blocks. Orzol hit .290 and with 10 digs to record her fifth double-double of the season.

Freshman setter Charlie Fuebringer (46 assists, 12 digs) posted her ninth double-double of the season.

She also tied a career high for six blocks, all of which she recorded during the final two sets.

The Badgers made an adjustment to their block during the match

“We were making a lot of errors when we went high and tried to overpower them,” said senior Devyn Robinson, who has five blocks. “ I feel like getting low and staying steady is something we focused on it paid off in the end.”

“Also not getting jumpy (was key),” added senior right-side hitter Anna Smrek, who posted four blocks.. “Just being patient, trusting our eyes and then making a really explosive, dynamic move.”

Junior middle blocker Carter Booth led Wisconsin with nine blocks, her second-highest match total of the season. Six came during the final two sets when Wisconsin held Michigan State to hitting percentages of .023 and .107.

The match capped a week that also included a five-set win over Ohio State that lasted 2 hours 43 minutes. The match Saturday went 2 hours 31 minutes.

Next UW will turn its attention to its first-round NCAA Tournament match that is expected to be played at the Field House.

“It’s just resetting after each point,” Orzol said of her focus. “It was mentioned before the game. Reset. That is when we’re playing our best volleyball, when we are like goldfish without no memory., not even short memory. It’s always, always forward.”