Lauryn Gillis

Wisconsin volleyball players honored by the Big Ten

November 29, 2017 By Bill Scott

The Wisconsin Badger women’s volleyball team had two players named to the 2017 All-Big Ten team. A pair of middle blockers, junior Tionna Williams and freshman Dana Rettke were both named to the squad.

Rettke and teammate, setter Sydney Hilley were named to the All-Freshman team.

Rettke, after setting a Big Ten Conference record with nine Freshman of the Week awards, was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year. The 6’8 middle blocker becomes the fifth Badger to earn the rookie honor, following teammate Molly Haggerty, who was honored in 2016. Her selection to the All-Big Ten team was unanimous.

On the season, Rettke leads the Badgers and ranks second in the Big Ten with a .445 hitting percentage. She also leads the team and ranks 13th in the conference with 3.37 kills per set. The freshman has a team-best 1.42 blocks per set, which ranks third in the Big Ten. The Riverside, Illinois native leads all Big Ten freshmen in hitting percentage and blocks per set while ranking third in kills per set. [Read more…]

Volleyball Badgers sweep Michigan

September 25, 2017 By Bill Scott

Wisconsin Volleyball

Seniors Kelli Bates and Lauryn Gillis teamed up to lead the 5th-ranked Wisconsin women’s volleyball team to its first Big Ten Conference win of the season. The Badgers swept No. 20 Michigan, 25-11, 30-28, 25-13, at the UW Field House on Sunday afternoon.

Wisconsin (10-1 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) was unstoppable in the first set, hitting .500 (12 kills – 2 errors – 20 attempts). UW hit .359 (44-11-92) for the match and held the Wolverines (10-4, 0-2) to .079 (32-24-101), their lowest percentage of the season.

Bates led all players with 12 kills while adding seven digs and three blocks. Gillis also scored double-digit kills, earning 12 putaways.

Freshman Dana Rettke was a force behind the service line. The middle blocker collected a career-high five aces. The Badgers scored six aces and held Michigan to two.

Rettke also earned a match-high and career-high nine blocks as UW out-blocked the Wolverines 13-6. Redshirt sophomore Madison Duello tied her career high with eight stuffs.

The Badgers travel to Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday for a 7 p.m. match with the Hawkeyes from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Wisconsin continues its road trip, taking on No. 14 Nebraska on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Badger volleyball ready for Big Ten play

September 17, 2017 By Bill Scott

Wisconsin Volleyball

For the first time since 2010, the 5th ranked Wisconsin women’s volleyball team wrapped up the non-conference season with an undefeated record.

The Badgers swept Southern Mississippi 25-8, 25-10, 25-11 to win their own Badger Classic at the UW Field House on Saturday night. Wisconsin completes the non-conference season with a perfect 9-0 record and lost only one set along the way.

The Badgers hit a season-high .461 (40 kills – 5 errors – 76 total attempts), which ties for second on the three-set, single-match record list under 25-point rally scoring. The Golden Eagles (9-6) hit an opponent season low negative .043 (22-26-93).

Senior Lauryn Gillis was the only player in double-figure kills, recording a match-high 11 putaways.

Wisconsin outblocked Southern Miss 10-0, behind a match-high five blocks from Dana Rettke. UW also had five service aces and did not get aced by the Golden Eagles.

Wisconsin opens the Big Ten Conference season next weekend, hosting No. 23 Michigan State on Friday and No. 21 Michigan on Sept. 24.