Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Rhode Island to close out nonconference play

OK, perhaps a good variety of College of Wisconsin volleyball followers are nonetheless from Friday night time’s emotionally charged, record-setting crowd match in opposition to Florida on the Kohl Middle.

However for the Badgers, it was again to enterprise as normal on Sunday as they rolled over an overmatched Rhode Island group 25-16, 25-10, 25-16 again dwelling on the UW Area Home.

Whereas the match fell 25 tickets in need of a sellout and a great lots of these ticket holders failed to point out — the coed part was about six rows deep after filling each ends of the Kohl Middle’s three ranges two nights earlier — those that did make it noticed the No. 4 Badgers enjoying at a excessive stage for many of their last tune-up for the Huge Ten Convention season.

“There was loads happening this weekend,” coach Kelly Sheffield mentioned. “You’ve bought all the pieces from Friday night time and the hoopla and the frustration of not with the ability to pull that one out. It was a recruiting weekend and we had some folks right here after which being honored on the soccer sport. After which beginning to get able to play a match.

“I preferred how we got here and have been able to play a volleyball match. That’s their job, proper? That’s the accountability that you just’ve bought to do and I believed we did a great job with that. I believed our whole group had some good moments.”

Freshman libero Gulce Guctekin had greater than her share of these good moments. Guctekin, who famously had by no means served in her life till becoming a member of the Badgers, tied a faculty document (25-point rally scoring period) with six service aces. It’s a mark she now shares with program icon Lauren Carlini and teammate Izzy Ashburn, acknowledged as the very best server on the group.

Neither Guctekin nor Ashburn knew in regards to the document till the post-match information convention.

“I knew that GG had a very good serving day and he or she has all season,” Ashburn mentioned.

“We work collectively and Izzy (teaches) me how higher to serve,” Guctekin mentioned. “We did particular coaching collectively, in order that’s perhaps that’s why, due to her.”

‘Let’s eliminate worry’ perspective results in Wisconsin volleyball match at Kohl Middle

Whereas Guctekin’s serving has been a revelation — her 18 aces lead the group by eight over Ashburn — that a part of her sport is simply one thing of a bonus. Her major duties are passing and digging. And Friday night time she had her struggles, particularly with passing, as Florida focused her with serve after serve and had appreciable success doing so.

Guctekin mentioned she tried to be taught from that have after which put it behind her.

“I didn’t anticipate to play like that on Friday,” she mentioned. “But it surely’s a sport. We’ll play numerous video games. We will’t simply cease and speak this sport. We’ve got a number of video games so I’ve to be higher. So that is my mentality, I’ve to be higher each sport.”

Storybook ending fails to come back about for Wisconsin volleyball

As difficult because the Florida match was for Guctekin, Sheffield was enthusiastic about the way in which she responded, each as that match progressed and in opposition to Rhode Island.

“It’s a tough sport,” he mentioned. “You play lengthy sufficient and you’ve got some moments the place it’s like, whoa. What I preferred about her the opposite night time is she had loads coming at her and it was tough in the beginning. She informed me loads about her toughness by getting higher because the match went on. That’s one factor I used to be on the lookout for.

“She had a tough time however I wasn’t going to sub her out and put another person in. I wished to learn the way does she reply when issues aren’t going properly. What I realized about her was that she’s a fairly robust child and bought loads higher.

“We talked about method this morning and I do know she’s going to go to work on these little issues this week. You’re wanting gamers which might be resilient and hard and are prepared to lean into studying. And she or he confirmed me each of these issues. In case you have each of these belongings you’re going to have an unbelievable profession. What I realized from her was stuff that bought me much more enthusiastic about teaching her the subsequent three and a half years.”

Wisconsin volleyball takes down NCAA attendance document

The Badgers (6-2) hit .459 on Sunday as exterior hitters Sarah Franklin and Julia Orzol every had 9 kills to prepared the ground.

Defensively, they held the Rams (4-9) to only a .066 hitting share.

That was simply what the Badgers have been on the lookout for as they flip their consideration to convention play, which begins Friday in opposition to Northwestern on the Area Home.

“We’re enthusiastic about enjoying the Huge Ten as a result of there’s simply nothing prefer it,” Sheffield mentioned. “If you get into convention play the tenacity raises, the vitality within the constructing is raised, there’s a bit of bit extra at stake and it tends to deliver out the very best in folks.”

The Badgers obtained a 2024 dedication Sunday from Lola Schumacher, a 5-foot-5 libero from Carmel, Indiana. She performs for Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory Faculty in Indianapolis and the Munciana volleyball membership in Muncie, Indiana.

Schumacher is the fourth participant to commit for the category, becoming a member of setter Charlie Fuerbringer of Hermosa Seashore, California; center blocker Tosia Serafinowska of Poland; and out of doors hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres of Kitchener, Ontario.

RHODE ISLAND (kills-digs-blocks) — Powers 0-2-0, Wright 9-5-0, Blaney 0-8-0, Paulette 4-1-1, Gage 0-2-0, Shilling 2-0-1, Passerello 0-2-0, Pinell 4-1-1, Vente 2-1-0, Butler 1-2-0. Totals 22-24-2.

WISCONSIN (kills-digs-blocks) — Reed 0-1-0, MacDonald 0-0-0, Gregorski 0-1-0, Hammill 0-1-0, Crawford 6-0-1, Robinson 2-0-2, Ashburn 0-4-0, Franklin 9-2-0, Smrek 2-0-2, Demps 2-0-0, Wrobel 3-0-0, Hart 7-0-3, Guctekin 0-16-0, Orzol 9-4-0. Totals 40-29-4.

Hitting share — R .066, W .459. Aces — R 2 (Vente 2), W 12 (Guctekin 6). Assists — R 22 (Butler 13), W 37 (Ashburn 18). Att. – 7,204.