(UW ATHLETICS) WEST LAFAYETTE, IND – The No. 6 Wisconsin volleyball team swept the No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers in three sets (25-18, 25-15, 25-21) at Mackey Arena Sunday afternoon in front of a crowd of 10,505.
Freshman Decelise Champion put together another quality showing on the offensive end, finishing with 11 kills while also contributing nine digs and five blocks. Freshman Audrey Flanagan added nine kills of her own, as senior Eva Travis added seven. Middle blocker Lynney Tarnow contributed six kills and added four blocks.
Freshman libero Anna Bardaro led the defense with 12 digs, good for her 10th match with double-figure dig totals this season.
The Badgers (8-4, 2-0) jumped out to a 13-4 lead in the first set, utilizing a strong hitting performance and providing a physical presence at the net. Travis and Champion led the way, tallying three apiece early as the Badger Block chipped in three points in the frame.
Purdue (8-3, 1-1) combined for a late 3-0 push to cut Wisconsin’s lead down to four, but the Badgers swiftly responded with a triad of kills from Fuerbringer, Champion and Travis before a Champion kill sealed the set, 25-18.
The second set opened in a back-and-forth affair before Wisconsin managed to build separation with a 6-0 run. Champion tallied two kills in that frame to help provide the cushion. From there, a strong serving performance from Wisconsin helped seal the set as a trio of Badgers collected aces as Fuerbringer’s sealed the set 25-15.
The Badgers physicality up front held the Boilermakers under a .100 hitting percentage through the first two sets, while chipping in a match-high .345 performance of their own in the second frame. Wisconsin tallied five of its eight blocks in the first two sets alone.
Purdue mounted a pair of 5-0 pushes early in the third set, holding a 15-14 lead before the Badgers were able to put together a 7-3 push behind a strong hitting performance. UW continued to battle before kills from middle blockers Jaela Auguste and Tarnow sealed the 25-21 set victory and match win.
With the win, the Badgers earned their third-straight sweep over the Boilermakers and improve to 2-0 in conference play.
Notes:
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With the win, the Badgers improve to 56-35 all-time and 22-21 when playing in West Lafayette against Purdue. This is also the third-straight sweep over the Boilermakers.
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The Badgers held Purdue to a .113 (38-23-115) hitting percentage – a new season-best for the Badgers.
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Wisconsin outblocked its opponent in its last three matches. UW totaled eight blocks to Purdue’s five.
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Libero Anna Bardaro tallied her 10th match with double-figure dig totals. Bardaro collected a team-best 12 digs.
Up Next: Wisconsin returns to the UW Field House to take on No. 18 Indiana on Thursday, Oct. 1. First serve is set for 8 p.m. with the match airing on Big Ten Network.
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