Wisconsin volleyball relies on offensive balance, big block to make quick work of Troy

MADISON – Tuesday was Sarah Franklin’s night. Friday night balance ruled the day for the Wisconsin volleyball team.

Five players recorded double-digit attacks in a sweep of Troy that was played in front of an announced crowd of 7,229 at the UW Field House. That balance fueled a season-high hitting percentage of .416 for the seventh-ranked Badgers, who won 25-18, 25-13, 25-14 to score their fifth straight match and raise their record to 5-3.

Senior Anna Smrek led the Badgers in kills (10) and blocks (a season-high seven), while hitting .412, which just missed her season high for hitting percentage. Devyn Robinson, another senior, added eight kills, six blocks and a season-high .700 hitting percentage.

Franklin, who set a program record with 33 kills in a four-set victory over Marquette on Tuesday, finished the night with nine kills, 10 digs and a .333 hitting percentage.

Whereas Franklin had 60 swings Tuesday. Friday she led the team with 18 and was one of five Badgers with at least 10 swings.

The growing diversity of UW’s offense should help it in the big picture of the season.

“I feel like it just builds trust on our team that anyone can get it done and anyone can pop off any night like Tank popped off the other night with 33 kills, which is just amazing,” Robinson said. “Tonight, was a little more even. I feel like that is what makes us strong, that we have more than jst one go-to hitter who can put it away.”

Freshman setter Charlie Fuerbringer, who missed the Marquette match due to a right leg injury, returned and finished with 36 assists and helped the Badgers hit at least .321 in each set.

Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield noted that the freshman wasn’t able to practice much this week.

“It was a little bit rusty, but it’s nice to say your setter is a little bit rusty when you’re hitting over .400,” he said. “I guess that’s a good problem to have.”

Wisconsin also had a season high 12 ½ blocks, while its eight aces were its second-highest total of the season.

Troy, which is picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West, dropped to 5-4 and was held to a .057 hitting percentage, its second lowest of the season and the lowest for a UW opponent. One of the Trojans’ top players is junior setter Janelle Stuempfig, who finished with 12 assists.

The first set was not only the closest of the match but also the most competitive. The score was tied 13-13 when junior Gulce Guctekin served six straight points to break open the set. Robinson and senior Julia Orzol had two kills during the run.

The next two sets were marked by fast starts by Wisconsin.

In the second, the Badgers scored 10 of the first 12 points with Smrek and senior Caroline Crawford getting two blocks and a kill during that stretch. In the third, UW also led, 10-2, but this time the run was marked by balance as five players scored kills during that stretch led by Smrek’s three.

It made for a quick evening for UW. The match took just one hour, 18 minutes, just 2 minutes longest than the team’s shortest match of the year (UWM).

It’s a good thing because the Badgers will be back in action at the Field House at 7 p.m. Saturday against Texas A&M, which is 8-0.

“I feel like we went in and did our jobs and luckily we got it done quick so now it’s time for us to recover and get ready for Texas A&M,” Robinson said. “That’s all there is to it really, just get ready for the next team because we’ve got a pretty good team tomorrow night.”