No. 1 Wisconsin Escapes No. 3 Florida in Five Sets

In a thrilling battle between two of the top-ranked teams in the nation, No. 1 Wisconsin rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat No. 3 Florida in five sets (25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12) on Friday night at the UW Field House. The victory marked Wisconsin's sixth consecutive win over Florida and improved their record to 10-0 this season, while the Gators fell to 7-2.

A Tale of Two Halves

The first two sets of the match were evenly contested, with both teams trading points back and forth. Florida took the first set by the narrow margin of 25-23, but Wisconsin responded with a 25-23 win of their own in the second set. The third set went to Florida as well, with the Gators taking a 2-1 lead in the match. However, Wisconsin stormed back in the fourth set, winning by a score of 25-23 to force a fifth and deciding set.

The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The Badgers eventually pulled away, however, thanks to a strong serving performance by Molly Haggerty. Haggerty had four aces in the fifth set, including one on match point.

Key Players

Wisconsin was led by Dana Rettke, who had 19 kills and hit .375. Rettke also had 4 blocks and 2 digs. Julia Orzol added 14 kills and Sarah Franklin had 10 kills and 3 blocks. Haggerty finished with 5 aces and 24 digs.

Florida was led by T'ara Ceasar, who had 18 kills and hit .353. Rhamat Alhassan added 15 kills and 3 blocks, while Lauren Forte had 14 kills and 3 blocks. Gabby Curry had 22 digs and Alhassan had 8 blocks.

What It Means

The victory was a big one for Wisconsin, as it keeps them undefeated on the season and strengthens their hold on the No. 1 ranking. It was also a significant win for the Badgers, as it ended Florida's seven-match winning streak.

For Florida, the loss was a setback, but it is still early in the season and the Gators have plenty of time to recover. They will need to learn from their mistakes and come back stronger in their next match.

Analysis

There were several key factors that contributed to Wisconsin's victory. First, the Badgers were able to control the serve and pass game. They had only 5 service errors in the match, while Florida had 10. The Badgers also had a 7-2 advantage in aces.

Second, Wisconsin was able to take advantage of Florida's blocking. The Gators had 11 blocks in the match, but the Badgers were able to hit around them and still score points. Wisconsin also had a 5-1 advantage in kills in the fifth set.

Finally, Wisconsin was able to stay focused and composed throughout the match. Even when they were down 2-1, the Badgers never gave up. They continued to fight and eventually pulled out the victory.

Conclusion

Wisconsin's victory over Florida was a significant win for the Badgers and a setback for the Gators. However, it is still early in the season and both teams have plenty of time to improve. The rematch between these two teams on November 24th should be a great one.