Wisconsin Women's Volleyball Team Records Season-High Service Aces in Ohio State Sweep

The Aces Up Wisconsin's Sleeve: How Service Aces Flipped the Game Against the Buckeyes

Wisconsin outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara (12) hits over Ohio State s Eloise Brandewie (31) during their volleyball match against Ohio State Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the UW Field House in Madison, Wisconsin :: © Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Badgers Overcome Early Deficit to Win First Set

The #1 Wisconsin Women's Volleyball Team had their work cut out for them when the Ohio State Buckeyes surged to an early 6-1 lead. However, the Badgers proved why they're the team to beat. Sarah Franklin spearheaded the Badgers' resurgence, tying the game at 7-7 with three pivotal kills. Wisconsin pulled ahead with a 9-8 lead and didn't look back. Contributions from both Franklin and Anna Smrek resulted in a 25-22 victory in the opening set.

The Impact of Service Aces in the Second Set

The second set looked evenly matched until Izzy Ashburn stepped up for the Badgers. Ashburn, who finished the match with a career-high 37 assists, had three service aces. These aces were pivotal in pushing the Badgers' score to 18-9 against the Buckeyes. With the momentum firmly in their corner, the Badgers closed the set 25-15.

Sarah Franklin Leads the Charge in the Third Set

The Buckeyes were not about to give in easily. The third set was neck-and-neck, tied at 5-5, when Sarah Franklin stepped up yet again. With six more kills, Franklin took the Badgers to a comfortable 20-13 lead, forcing Ohio State to call a timeout. Kills from Carter Booth and Temi Thomas-Ailara clinched the set and match, underlining Wisconsin’s dominance.

Wisconsin's Path to Victory: Head Coach Kelly Sheffield Discusses Upcoming Matches

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Sarah Franklin finished with a match-high 16 kills, and Thomas-Ailara wasn’t far behind with 11. But the figure that stands out the most? The 11 service aces, tying their season-high and ranking third in the program’s all-time list. Julia Orzol and Izzy Ashburn each recorded a personal high with four service aces, making service aces the cornerstone of the Badgers' sweep.

Wisconsin outside hitter Sarah Franklin (13) is shown during their volleyball match against Ohio State Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the UW Field House in Madison, Wisconsin :: © Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

What the Coach and Players Had to Say

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield emphasized the importance of service aces, saying, "I thought we did a great job behind the service line and really put a lot of pressure on them with where we were serving and the confidence and execution of going out there. That was probably the biggest thing of the match."

Setter Izzy Ashburn echoed the sentiment, underlining the team's resilience, "We might have been down from the start but we were doing the right thing. We're barely missing, keep staying fearless out there and keep going for it"

Carter Booth added her thoughts on what keeps the team going, "I think, as a team, belief is our superpower. Believing in ourselves and the people around us that we know what we need to and that we're going to do it."

Final Thoughts

The Badgers' latest victory isn't just another tick in the win column; it's the 27th in an unbroken string of Big Ten successes. As they prepare for a high-stakes match against #2 Nebraska this Saturday at 7 p.m. CT, their recent performances, especially their service game, suggest they're up for the challenge.

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