Badgers women’s volleyball sweeps Rutgers

(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON _- The No. 7 Wisconsin women’s volleyball team took care of business in their first conference battle of the 2025 season, defeating Rutgers (25-17, 25-17, 25-12) in straight sets to secure their seventh consecutive victory.

The Badgers (8-1) utilized a 5-0 run in the middle of set one to extend their advantage against the Scarlet Knights (9-4) behind the serving run of middle blocker Natalie Wardlow. Middle blockers Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew each tallied a kill in the process, in addition to a service ace turned in by Wardlow. 

Outside hitter Madison Quest, in her first collegiate start, was clicking on all cylinders on the offensive end for UW, as the freshman finished with a perfect 3-for-3 line at the end of the first set to power the Badgers to a 25-17 win.

It was more of the same for Wisconsin in set two, as the Badgers provided a response to a strong Rutgers’ run in the latter half of set two. UW went on to win four of the last five rallies to separate and take a 2-0 lead, capped off by an ace from setter Charlie Fuerbringer.

Wisconsin continued to keep its foot on the gas in set three, as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead with the help of the serving run from outside hitter Una Vajagic. The redshirt sophomore accumulated an ace in the process, finishing the evening with two. 

From there, the Badgers continued to excel both offensively and defensively, highlighted by 11 blocks by the match’s conclusion. UW was paced by Andrew, as the senior earned her second-highest mark of the year in that category with seven. 

Colyer and Fuerbringer each racked up a kill to take the victory over the Scarlet Knights with a 25-12 final in set three. Colyer, fresh off of her second-straight Big Ten Player of the Week honor, notched double-digit kill totals for the ninth consecutive match—finishing the night with 10. 

Quest and Booth combined for 14 kills on 25 attempts with zero errors to lead the Badgers on the offensive end. Quest completed her first start with a hitting percentage of .636 (7 – 0 – 11) to kick off conference play, chipping in four blocks and a pair of service aces. 

Fuerbringer had 29 assists and seven digs, in addition to a pair of kills. 

Wisconsin swept Rutgers for the 16th consecutive match, improving to 18-0 all-time against the Scarlet Knights—including 10-0 at the UW Field House. 

Straight from the Court
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield (on tonight’s match): “Defensively, I thought we got stronger as the match went on. We had a lot of success out of the middle. This was Mad-Dog’s [Madison Quest] first college start, and it’s not a bad stat line. She just kind of dotted the entire box score. It was just a complete game for her, and that’s the type of player that she is.”