The Wisconsin Badgers began Big Ten play with a big win over No. 20 Oregon Ducks in a match that was gritty/gutty and featured some impressive plays, runs, rallies, and kills. Both teams were in a battle, and this is what Big Ten play is all about. Wisconsin didn't have a soft landing into conference play with the Ducks, followed by No. 10 Purdue, No. 18 Indiana, and then No. 15 Minnesota.
It started great for the Badgers, and it was enough of a battle for Wisconsin that Coach Kelly Sheffield will have plenty of teaching points and opportunities for growth. Here are some thoughts after a battle-tested Big Ten win.
1. Live by the freshmen, die by the freshmen
Wisconsin's starting lineup had four freshmen out of the six players on the court. As the match went along, it was both impressive and evident that the freshmen were mostly leading the way. Audrey Flanagan had 19 kills, Decelise Champion had 16 kills, Anna Bardaro had 16 digs, and Lynney Tarnow had four blocks and seven kills.
There's a lot to love about these freshmen holding it down for the Badgers, but it's also going to be constant growth in front of our eyes. Fuerbringer is still learning to set these freshmen. It will only get better for this team.
2. It already may be Decelise Champion vs. Audrey Flanagan for the Freshman of the Year award.
The most impressive freshman so far this year is Taylor Stanley from Kansas. She's been elite already as a true freshman, but she has to hear footsteps behind her from both Flanagan and Champion. And if these two keep rising higher and higher and working together, it may end up being a three-way race. Wisconsin fans are hoping it may end up being a two woman race.
Champion's stats were insane against Oregon. She had 16 kills with a .429 hitting percentage; she also had 10 digs and four blocks. That's an incredible performance for anyone, especially a true freshman.
Flanagan was also amazing with 19 kills and a .425 hitting percentage; five digs, two aces, and one block. These two players are 17 and 18 years old and just getting started in college volleyball. With Champion playing on the right side and Flanagan playing outside, it's easily the best freshman duo in all of college volleyball.
3. Is this Kelly Sheffield's settled rotation?
Before this game, Sheffield said that the Badgers "were close" to settling into a rotation and a starting lineup. He said coaches were already having the conversations with players about playing time. So, was this the settled starting lineup and rotation? If so, the starters were:
OH - Audrey Flanagan
OH - Eva Travis
MB - Jalea Auguste
MB - Lynney Tarnow
RS - Decelise Champion
S - Charlie Fuerbringer
L - Anna Bardaro
11 players got into the match, but only eight played in all four sets. Kristen Simon was the eighth; the rest were the seven starters listed above. Isabelle Hoppe played in three. Natalie Wardlow and Kymora Scott both came in for one set.
So the question is...is this the final rotation? Is this what Wisconsin fans can expect going forward? Or will injuries still affect this, like Grace Egan, Grace Lopez, and even Madison Quest?
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