The Sett, Week 5 - Purdue and Indiana

L (1-3) vs Washington

In the second set, Wisconsin had leads at 23-18 and 24-20. They did not pick up that set. The Huskies’ 7-1 run was comprised of three Badger attack errors and four kills from Kara Bajema, whose attacking line of 19-4-57 shows that she wasn’t really going to back down from any challenge.

It’s the attacking errors that really did in the Badgers on this night - 30 errors with 14 blocks will just not get you far in life. Washington was able to apply consistent pressure, while Wisconsin gave up too many free balls and never found a way to really keep the opposition rattled. This was the only time that worked:

L (0-3) @ Washington

20-25, 20-25, 14-25. Overall, Washington hit .457, they had seven aces, out-blocked Wisconsin 10-1. They really wanted complete control of large stylized W’s that night, and it showed.

Non-Conference Recap

Well, Wisconsin lost all three home games, and they only have one win against a team currently ranked out of five opportunities.

But yet, it somehow doesn’t feel that bad? All the losses are to teams currently in the top-10, including undefeated No. 2 Baylor. Nine of the top-25 teams have only one loss or are undefeated, including only half of the top-eight. Almost every other team that’s been tested against elite competition regularly has come up short a few times.

There’s still an opportunity for the Badgers to pull themselves together and prove they belong among the top squads, instead of just underneath.

Elsewhere around the conference

No. 1 Stanford took back their top ranking by heading to Lincoln to knock off No. 2 Nebraska. No. 15 Purdue beat SEC contender Kentucky. The road teams took the games in No. 5 Penn State and No. 4 Pitt’s home-and-home weekend series.

Conference players of the week honors went to ones that actually won all their games. Purdue’s Hayley Bush and Grace Cleveland took setter and overall honors respectively, Kylie Murr of Ohio State was defensive and co-freshman and Michigan State’s Biamba Kabengele picking up the other half of weekly freshman accolades.

Sept 27th - No. 15 Purdue

First on the docket is a Boilermakers team coming off four wins in four days, starting with a five-set win against No. 15 Kentucky. Thirteenth in the country in hitting percentage at .293 (which is a rounding error better than Wisconsin’s .293 apparently), the body of their attack is Caitlyn Newton and Grace Cleveland. Purdue also blocks a stellar three times a set, meaning the Badgers front-court will need to really step up.

Sept 29th - Indiana

Indiana filled up on junk food early. They are a surprising 11-2, but surprising because how did they already play five more games than Wisconsin? They did play one ranked team and beat No. 15 Kentucky in 5 sets (a theme today!), which is most notable for really confusing Hoosiers that basketball might have started already. They block well, but don’t do anything else of note except have seven more wins than the Badgers.

How to watch

BTN+ is your only way to see this week’s action outside the Field House.

Other games of note

Undefeated No. 21 Cal hosts No. 1 Stanford before the Cardinal travel to No. 8 Washington. Inside the conference, No. 20 Illinois heads to No. 3 Nebraska and No. 15 Purdue heads to No. 7 Minnesota.

Wait, Cal and Baylor are both undefeated?

WE ARE AT MAXIMUM THREAT LEVEL BEARS.