Heading into Madison, Wisconsin, the undefeated Texas A&M volleyball was set to test itself against No. 7 Wisconsin. The Badgers, despite losing their first three matches of the season, had won four straight and put an end to the Aggies’ 8-0 hot streak with a 3-0 sweep.
The Aggies got off to an early 4-2 lead in Set 1, but the Badgers hastily battled back to take a six-point lead and held it. Despite having six kills from junior opposite hitter Logan Lednicky, the Maroon and White’s four serving errors, combined with Wisconsin senior outside hitter Julia Orzol’s five kills, secured the set for the Badgers 25-18.
“[Orzol] was really, really great at the net,” Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield said at the postgame press conference. “I thought our hitters were patient in hitting good shots and working the areas of the court that they felt like they could score.”
Set 2 was a dogfight. The score was even 16 times with four lead changes and neither team was able to pull away. Orzol took over for the Badgers, recording another six kills, including three in a row.
“I think good volleyball teams are able to play for long stretches of time,” A&M coach Jamie Morrison said postgame. “We played big in a big moment when the score was tight in a hostile environment and I’m proud of that.”
After six set point situations, Wisconsin was able to pull away thanks to an unassisted kill from graduate OH Sarah Franklin’s back-to-back kills and ace to end the set 30-28.
“I think the end of sets are a time where a lot of us thrive,” Franklin said in the postgame press conference. “We are able to just play volleyball; that is our favorite part.”
Franklin would make another appearance at the end of Set 3, securing the final kill of the match for the Badgers. The Aggies jumped out to an early lead in the third, but Wisconsin’s defense would prove too tough. The Badgers took the set, 25-19.
This was the Maroon and White’s first ranked matchup of the season, and the Aggies matched nearly every stat Wisconsin put up. The major difference in the game was defense. The Badgers recorded eight blocks to the Aggies’ three, all coming from junior middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla.
Junior setter Maddie Waak, who leads the nation in assists per set, was outshined by Wisconsin’s freshman S Charlie Fuerbringer. Waak had 30 assists in the match, while Fuerbringer racked up 39 of her own.
The Aggies moved to 8-1 after the loss, but it was not all bad in Saturday’s matchup.
“I’m excited about how we played for stretches,” Morrison said. “Obviously, you’re never happy with a loss, but I’m happy with the path we’re on.”
The Aggies remain in Madison on Sunday to take on Troy at 1 p.m. on Big Ten Plus before opening SEC play on Sept. 27 versus Texas.
