The strong play of Wisconsin's Carter Booth, the competition in Marquette's back row plus 4 more takeaways from the UW-MU volleyball scrimmage

OCONOMOWOC – Not even the threat of a tornado and heavy rain kept the crowd away.

With the heavy storm audible inside the Oconomowoc High School fieldhouse, a packed house watched the Marquette and Wisconsin women’s volleyball teams scrimmage Friday night. The matchup pitted the defending champions from the Big Ten and Big East, teams that will likely be favored to win the title in their respective leagues this upcoming season.

Wisconsin swept the meeting, 25-17, 25-13, 25-14, though at this time of year the goal is more on development than wins and losses.

Here are six takeaways from the scrimmage:

Wisconsin's Carter Booth comfortable in debut

The scrimmage was the first look fans had at Minnesota transfer Carter Booth. The 6-foot-7 rising sophomore middle blocker finished with seven kills and eight blocks and her 11 points were second on the team to Devyn Robinson, who had 12.5 thanks to 10 kills and five blocks..

The Badgers will be field a number of combinations in the front row that bring great size. Nothing illustrated that more than the times Booth was on the floor with 6-9 Anna Smrek.

“It felt great out there," Booth said. "We came with the fire and the energy that we committed ourselves to coming with to every practice and every single game. The one thing that stood out to me is that we’re already such a tight-knit group, but out there when you’re in a battle it’s easy to fall apart from each other, but we didn’t do that.”

Marquette’s Samantha Naber, Adriana Studer compete for libero jersey

The Golden Eagles return most of their top players from last season. One void, however, is the departure of libero Carly Skrabek, who is now a graduate transfer at Cincinnati.

Samantha Naber, a rising junior, and Adriana Studer, a rising sophomore, shared that role Friday. Naber totaled nine digs while playing the first and third sets; Studer recorded two digs in the second set.

The competition between the two will likely continue throughout the spring and the team's tour of Europe this summer.

“They were a freshman and sophomore last year and they’re doing better," Marquette coach Ryan Theis said. "You can see it in practice, you can see it statistically."

Wisconsin's defense delivers

The Badgers ranked fifth in the nation last season in opponent hitting percentage (.144). Friday they held Marquette to negative hitting percentages in the first and third sets and to -.059 for the match. A lot of the credit for that goes to the Badgers' block - UW had 22 in the match - and back row defense that UW coach Kelly Sheffield felt improved as the match progressed. Libero Gulce Guctekin finished with a match-high 13 digs, while Julia Orzol had 10.

“Marquette can be a real handful because of how fast they’re running their tempo,” Sheffield said. “They can really give you some issues … that’s a really good offense to be able to hold them to that. That’s not something that you certainly expect.”

Marquette’s Anastasija Svetnik working to carve role

You can never have too much size, something Marquette rising junior Anastasija Svetnik could provide the Golden Eagles. The 6-3 middle blocker missed most of last season due to injury. She got a long look Friday

While all-Big East middle blockers Hattie Bray and Carsen Murray playing two sets each, Svetnik played in all three, receiving time in the middle and on the right side. She finished with four kills and two blocks, Her five points were second to former Arrowhead High School star Aubrey Hamilton’s six.

“She’s just a good player, all-around skills and size," Theis said of Svetnik. "She’s not the fastest kid on the team, but she’s got range. If someone drops one on her, she handles it no problem. If the ball comes at her, she can set somebody. She’s a nice piece to have on the court, she’s just got to find a role. When you return everybody, it’s hard.”

Injuries create opportunities for the Badgers

A number of Wisconsin players sat out the scrimmage due to injuries: Sarah Franklin, Caroline Crawford, Ella Wrobel and Saige Damrow.

Their absence created opportunities for Joslyn Boyer, a serve specialist last season, middle blocker Gabby McCaa, who missed half of last season due to a knee injury, and walk-on Sydney Reed. Boyer finished with seven assists and five digs and played libero in the final set. McCaa finished with four blocks.

“We’re deep and I think we showed that a little bit tonight,” Sheffield said.

Marquette to focus on improving defensively

With the return of Hamilton, Bray and Murray as well as All-American setter Yadhira Anchante,, Marquette should be a favorite to win the Big East again. Theis thought his team struggled with UW’s size and the unfamiliar environment Friday.

The Golden Eagles, however, have plenty more opportunities to work on those issues with upcoming scrimmages against Iowa State on April 15 in Dubuque, Iowa, and against Western Michigan on April 22 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The team will also play a handful of games in Europe in June.

“I think we’re a hundred times better than we were a year ago at this point at transition swings. It doesn’t show up as well against these guys, but where we still have a huge way to go is defensively," Theis said. "Our dig quality, our range defensively has to be significantly better because volleys are going to get long against good teams. If they make three digs and you can only make one or two it’s not going to get it done.”

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Six takeaways from Wisconsin-Marquette women’s volleyball scrimmage