Badgers lose to Gophers in five games

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Despite a strong first set, the No. 7 Wisconsin volleyball team lost 25-19, 15-25, 27-25, 25-15 and 11-15 to No. 16 Minnesota in its Big Ten opener on Wednesday night.

Sarah Franklin scored 21 kills, a game high, while the Badgers (6-4, 0-1 B1G) hit just .188 (56 kills – 24 errors – 170 attempts). Anna Smrek And Julia Orzol both finished the season in double figures with 13 kills each. Minnesota's Lydia Grote led the Gophers (8-3, 1-0 B1G) with 17 kills as they hit .250 (66-24-168). In addition to Grote's 17 kills, the Gophers had three other players with double figures in kills, making for a balanced attack.

After an up-and-down start to the first set, the Badgers took the lead at 13-13. A kill by Smrek cancelled out a Badgers run that included two kills and an ace by Franklin, and UW led 17-13. Minnesota was out of contention after that, but Wisconsin scored three more points to take a 20-14 lead. A kill by Charlie Fuerbringer decided the set for UW with a 25:19 victory.

Similar to the first set, the score was 13-13, but Minnesota turned the tables and completely threw the Badgers off track. The Gophers took a 12-2 lead and finished the set 25-15.

After the Badgers scored the first point of the third set, Minnesota took the lead and held it until UW tied the third set at 14-14 with a kill by Franklin and Orzol's third service ace of the night. Minnesota scored two kills in a row, but Wisconsin responded with a Franklin kill and an ace by Devyn Robinson as UW took a 17-16 lead. The lead didn't last long, however, as the Gophers went on a 5-1 run to secure a 21-18 lead. But the runs continued as Wisconsin gained enough momentum at the end of the set to secure a set point. The Gophers, however, scored a kill and a solo block to secure a set point of their own. Wisconsin went outside to close the game with a kill from Orzol and two consecutive kills from Franklin to win it 27-25.

In a set the Gophers had to win, they got off to a flying start. After taking an early 6-2 lead, Minnesota held off Wisconsin's runs as UW pulled within one point (9-8). The Gophers extended their lead with a 7-1 run and forced Wisconsin to take a timeout when the Badgers were down 16-9. After the timeout, Wisconsin rallied with a 4-0 run to get within three points. The Badgers couldn't do much from there, however, and lost the fourth set 25-15.

Entering the fifth set, Minnesota was on top. Just as the Badgers were about to turn the tide, Minnesota had an answer. UW was able to get within two points twice, but the Gophers kept control. The Badgers continued to catch up, but stayed close. They needed six match points, but the Gophers won the final set and the match 17-15.

Orzol hit a career-high four aces, and the Badgers totaled 11 on the night. Charlie Fuerbringer added 43 assists.

With a change in the lineup from what the Badgers had done so far, Gulce Güntekin took over the libero position tonight. She finished the game with 17 digs, a team-high, and Orzol wasn't far behind with 16 digs, along with her 13 kills for her third double-double of the season.

The Badgers had 13 blocks, Minnesota's nine. Smrek recorded six blocks in total.

Important instructions

• senior Julia Orzol counted 16 digs that night. Orzol needed just four digs to reach the 1,000-dig mark of his career.
• With 21 kills and 14 digs, fifth-grader Sarah Franklin recorded her sixth double-double of the season and her 32nd of her career. It is also Franklin's fifth game with 20+ kills this season.
• Wisconsin scored 11 service aces against the Gophers, a season record for the team.
• Julia Orzol set a season high with 16 digs. With her 16 digs she also achieved 13 kills, her third double-double of the season and the eleventh of her career. (also a season high with 14 kills)

Next

The Badgers remain on the road as they travel to Northwestern to face the Wildcats on Saturday night. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on B1G+.