4 thoughts from Wisconsin volleyball's sweep at Ohio State
The Badgers responded in a big way in Columbus. Here's what stood out.
Kelly Sheffield said his University of Wisconsin volleyball team would need to “flush” Friday’s loss and leave it in their “rear view mirror pretty darn quick.”
The Badgers heeded those words, it appears.
Wisconsin (16-4, 9-3 Big Ten) rebounded from its defeat against No. 1 Nebraska to dominate Ohio State (3-17, 0-12) in a three-set sweep at Columbus on Sunday. The Badgers controlled each frame of the match, winning 25-14, 25-12 and 25-14.
Here are a few thoughts from Wisconsin’s win.
Colyer’s strong start paced Wisconsin
All-American outside hitter Mimi Colyer started the first set a perfect 8 of 8 on her kill attempts that Wisconsin quickly took 25-14.
The Badgers hit .467 for the set, and their .458 overall hitting percentage against Ohio State on Sunday is a season-best against Big Ten foes this season. It’s the third-best mark overall behind their performances at Georgia Tech (.488) and Marquette (.487).
Colyer tallied a game-high 17 kills, hit .441 and also contributed four digs.
Grace Egan’s scorching return to Columbus
Egan transferred from Ohio State to Wisconsin during the winter offseason, and she continued to boost Wisconsin offensively and defensively in her fifth match back from injury.
Sheffield previously described Egan as having “the quickest arm” he’s ever seen, and she blistered the ball in finishing with seven kills and a .667 hitting percentage (for that matter, the kills from both Egan and Colyer sounded devastating off their respective arms on Sunday on the Big Ten Network telecast). Egan also contributed eight digs, two assists, two service aces and one block against her former program.
Second set was simply aces for the Badgers
Wisconsin hit .417 for the second set, but it also kept Ohio State off balance at the service line. Four different Badgers — Colyer, Egan, Addy Horner and Natalie Wardlow — each recorded one ace during that set.
Wisconsin finished with seven aces against Ohio State, led by Egan and Wardlow with two each, and the Buckeyes only hit .078 on Sunday.
Wisconsin wasn’t perfect at the service line though, as the Badgers committed 10 service errors in the win.
Wisconsin’s middle blockers contribute offensively
Horner efficiently distributed the ball on her 34 assists as five Badgers hitters registered at least five kills. Booth was second on the team with eight kills and hit. 500 against Ohio State, and redshirt senior middle blocker Alicia Andrew also contributed five kills on a .333 hitting percentage.
Wisconsin also owned the blocks advantage over Ohio State by a 4-1 margin. Booth led the way with two blocks.