Setting the scene: Rematch in Nebraska

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s no. 6 volleyball teams travel to Lincoln to take on the no. 2 Nebraska this weekend. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday night and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

Before the match begins, here are six things to know:

1. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Badgers pulled off a tough win on Wednesday night against no. 16 in Minnesota. After falling to them in five sets in the Big Ten opener earlier this season, Wisconsin was hoping to clinch the Border Battle series. After winning the first set 25-21, Minnesota tied it convincingly in set two, winning it 25-12. The Gophers won set three and UW took set four. In the final set, Wisconsin’s last four points came from blocks, and after five match points, the Badgers won 20-18.

2. BLOCK ENGAGES: The Badgers have shut out their opponent in all but three games, Louisville, Texas and Nebraska. Wisconsin has also hit double-digit block totals for 15 games so far this season. Heading into the final set of the Minnesota match, the Badgers had only collected seven blocks, the team recording six blocks in the fifth set.

3. WRITE HER NAME IN THE RECORD BOOK: Had 48 assists vs. Minnesota freshman Charlie Fuerbringer passed Lizzy Fitzgerald for the fifth most assists in a freshman game in program history. She now has 960 assists in the regular season. Laura Abbinante sits fourth with 1,291 assists.



4. SAIGE STANDS UP: For the second game in a row, Saige Damrow got the starting nod for libero vs Minnesota with Lola Schumacher and Gulce Guctekin still out with injuries. The redshirt freshman recorded a career-high 21 digs, besting her previous career high, which she set the game before, at UCLA (15 digs).

5. ON THE ROAD AGAIN: It’s well known that the Badgers are dominant in the UW Field House, but the Badgers have also done well on the road this year. On the road, Wisconsin has lost just two games (Louisville and Minnesota) this season.

6. SCOUTING OF HUSKERS: On 1 November came no. 2 Nebraska to the UW Field House and swept the Badgers 25-21, 25-22, 25-19 for their first home loss since the 2022 season. Nebraska leads the overall series 21-13-1, with the most recent matchup in Lincoln resulting in a five-set heartbreaker for UW last season. The Huskers are the only remaining undefeated team in the Big Ten with a 27-1 overall record and a 17-0 record in the Big Ten. Setter Bergen Reilly leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the NCAA with 11.17 assists per game. set. They are coming off a 3-0 sweep of Iowa on Wednesday night.