With Devyn Robinson leading the way, Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Kentucky in matchup of past two national champions
The Wisconsin volleyball team’s mettle was tested in the Kentucky heat Friday night.
Out-hit in the first set and pushed to set point in the second, the Badgers managed to grind out a 2-0 lead before putting on a dominant display in the third set to punctuate a 3-0 win over Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
The 25-23, 28-26, 25-18 win came in a match that pitted teams that won the last two national championship. Defending champion UW, ranked No. 6 in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 against ranked teams. Kentucky (4-2) entered play ranked 14th.
Adding to Wisconsin's challenge were the conditions. It was a warm night in Lexington and Memorial Coliseum doesn't have air conditioning,
No problem said UW.
"It was hot," junior middle blocker/right-side hitter Devyn Robinson said during a postgame radio interview. "I'm not going to lie, but that wasn't a factor. We just stayed mentally strong. We knew it was going to be sweaty coming into here."
Robinson finished with 13 kills, a .323 hitting percentage and five blocks to lead the Badgers. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Franklin added nine kills (.194) and sophomore outside hitter Julia Orzol recorded eight (.368). Freshman libero Gulce Guctekinhad another quality all-around performance with 11 digs, five assists and three aces.
The UW block was huge. It finished the evening with 15 blocks. Senior middle Danielle Hart and junior middle Caroline Crawford had seven apiece.
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That block was especially strong in the final set when Wisconsin held the Wildcats to 0.071 hitting. Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield said the strong play at the net started with the work at the service line.
“We were really putting the ball right where we wanted to over and over and over again,” he said “That is by far the best we’ve served. We have not been a particularly good serving team so far. It’s been an area we spent a lot of time on this week.”
The final set was also UW’s best hitting set of the night (.345).
Just four points separated the teams after two sets.
Franklin closed the first set with back-to-back kills, the first of which came thanks to a challenge UW won.
Wrapping up the second set was tougher. The Badgers trailed by margins of 15-9 and 20-16 before coming back. They also fought off a set point before Franklin closed the set with back-to-back kills.
The final set was easily UW’s sharpest. In addition to hitting .345, the team’s block helped shutdown a team that entered play leading the nation in hitting percentage.
““There were parts of our game where we were really good and other parts that we weren’t good early and we stayed with it and got better at the end,” Sheffield said. “When you come on the road and (deal with) all of that stuff, that’s a big deal.”
The Badgers return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday against Campbell in Lexington.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW volleyball sweeps Kentucky in matchup of past two national champs
