#2 Wisconsin @ Maryland - Fri 9/24/21, 6 PM CT (BTN+)

[rainbowbadger]

#2 Wisconsin vs. Maryland
Friday, September 24th, 2021 - 6:00 PM Central / 7:00 PM Eastern
Xfinity Center Pavilion - College Park, MD

Let the Big Ten Hunger Games begin! Two undefeated teams will enter the arena: Wisconsin is 8-0, and Maryland is 12-0. Only one undefeated team will leave.

In Person

Tickets: Still available

Game day info

COVID-19 protocols

Follow Along

Video: BTN+

Audio: U 100.9 FM

Stats: Sidearm

Previews: Wisconsin | Maryland

Schedules: Wisconsin | Maryland

Rosters: Wisconsin | Maryland

Likely Starters

Wisconsin

Pos	#	Name
S	2	Hilley
OH	23	Loberg
OH	22	Orzoł
MB	16	Rettke
MB	14	Smrek
RS	10	Robinson
L	1	Barnes
DS	7	Civita
DS	5	Boyer
SS	11	Ashburn

Maryland

Pos	#	Name
S	8	Dowler
OH	44	Csire
OH	9	Neciporuka
MB	2	Jones
MB	14	Lewis
RS	6	Ricks
L	12	Gomillion
DS	20	Thomas
DS	5	Finnerty

The series

Wisconsin owns the series 9-0. The teams did not meet in the 2020 (spring 2021) season, so this is their first match in almost two years - their last meeting was November 9, 2019, when Wisconsin swept Maryland in College Park.

Did you know...?

Wisconsin & Maryland are both UnderArmour schools. UnderArmour's founder and CEO, Kevin Plank, is a Maryland alum.

[AmeriCanVBfan]

First real test for the Terps.
I'm interested to see how they fare.

[northwoods]

Maryland has 1 player on their roster listed over 6’1”. This could give Bucky an advantage😊

[achilles]

Demps vs. Dowler, club teammates for several years.

[hammer]

Sept 20, 2021 11:14:15 GMT -5 AmeriCanVBfan said:

First real test for the Terps.
I'm interested to see how they fare.

The main thing is show you are not afraid when mighty Wisconsin walks onto the floor ...

[AmeriCanVBfan]

Sept 22, 2021 11:32:42 GMT -5 TuesdayGone said:

Maryland is leading the country in blocks/set
Maryland is leading the country in opponent hitting percentage (.097)
Wisconsin is leading the country in Hitting Percentage (.356)

Something's gotta give.

I watched Rettke run the slide to near perfection against Marquette.
It will be interesting to see how Maryland responds.

[volleyaudience]

Sept 22, 2021 11:40:33 GMT -5 AmeriCanVBfan said:

Sept 22, 2021 11:32:42 GMT -5 TuesdayGone said:

Maryland is leading the country in blocks/set
Maryland is leading the country in opponent hitting percentage (.097)
Wisconsin is leading the country in Hitting Percentage (.356)

Something's gotta give.

I watched Rettke run the slide to near perfection against Marquette.
It will be interesting to see how Maryland responds.

Interesting or brutal. 

[badgerbreath]

With Hart down, I wonder if Rettke resumes serving, or if Smrek fills in, or if the badgers just use serving subs. Rettke's serve, when on, has been a massive weapon in the past. They must not be seeing it in practice this year.

[rainbowbadger]

Finally had time to go digging in the record book for the series info. Now just waiting on the Wisconsin's match preview.

[Kingsley]

Sept 22, 2021 11:32:42 GMT -5 TuesdayGone said:

Maryland is leading the country in blocks/set
Maryland is leading the country in opponent hitting percentage (.097)
Wisconsin is leading the country in Hitting Percentage (.356)

I think Maryland is also leading the country in mid-major opponents per week.

[robtearle]

Sept 22, 2021 12:27:05 GMT -5 badgerbreath said:

With Hart down, I wonder if Rettke resumes serving, or if Smrek fills in, or if the badgers just use serving subs. Rettke's serve, when on, has been a massive weapon in the past. They must not be seeing it in practice this year.

Hart served while Orzol was out, and Ashburn was playing across the back. With Orzol available - knock wood - Izzy goes back to being a 'serving specialist', serving in place of whichever middle. Unless and until they run short of subs for a given set, neither Rettke nor Smrek will be serving, Izzy will be.

[AmeriCanVBfan]

Sept 22, 2021 12:08:28 GMT -5 volleyaudience said:

Sept 22, 2021 11:40:33 GMT -5 AmeriCanVBfan said:

Something's gotta give.

I watched Rettke run the slide to near perfection against Marquette.
It will be interesting to see how Maryland responds.

Interesting or brutal. 

I guess we're going to find out. 

[Wiswell]

I guess Orzol serves because she plays six rotations (yes?), but while the speed of her serve is awe-inspiring, it's ability to hit inside the lines is not.

[ndodge]

Sept 22, 2021 13:12:08 GMT -5 Wiswell said:

I guess Orzol serves because she plays six rotations (yes?), but while the speed of her serve is awe-inspiring, it's ability to hit inside the lines is not.

Yeah, early in sets I'd say let her rip since there's a chance she could go on a few point run to totally swing the set in Badger's favor.  But I hope she has a get-it-in dialed back version. 

[robtearle]

Sept 22, 2021 13:12:08 GMT -5 Wiswell said:

I guess Orzol serves because she plays six rotations (yes?), but while the speed of her serve is awe-inspiring, it's ability to hit inside the lines is not.

Yes. 

I guess if she were having a bad day serving, you could see them have Izzy or MacDonald sub for her instead of subbing to serve for Rettke. But there are limits on numbers of subs! :-)

(Seeing MacDonald's serve up close vs UW-Green Bay, it was good! Hard, flat, zero spin. If the need or opportunity arose, she'd do just fine as a serving sub.)