Madison – The University of Wisconsin women’s volleyball squad continued its strong start to the season on Thursday night, cruising past Auburn 3‑0 (25‑23, 25‑17, 25‑20) at the Field House. The victory gave the Badgers a perfect 2‑0 record at home and a historic first‑ever win over the Tigers.

Key performances

Freshman Halle Thompson delivered a career‑high double‑double with 11 kills and 11 digs, while senior Eva Travis added 10 kills. Junior setter Charlie Fuerbringer notched her 20th career double‑double, recording 35 assists and 12 digs. The Badgers also saw strong contributions from Anna Bardaro, who led the match with 17 digs, and Natalie Wardlow, who added eight kills.

Game flow

Wisconsin opened the match with a 4‑0 run, highlighted by an early ace from Bardaro. Auburn rallied to tie the set at 23‑23, but a service error and a kill by Flanagan secured the first set for the Badgers. The second set featured a decisive 7‑0 run, and Wisconsin closed it out with a 13‑4 spurt, posting a season‑high .517 hitting percentage. In the third set, after a brief Auburn lead, Wisconsin responded with four straight points, including three kills from Travis, to seal the win.

Coach and player comments

Head coach Kelly Sheffield praised Thompson’s aggressive, smart play, likening her energy to “a double shot of espresso.” Sheffield also highlighted the team’s disciplined ball handling and transition offense. Senior Natalie Wardlow emphasized her mindset of serving the team over personal accolades, while Eva Travis spoke about the growing bond among the players through daily practice.

Looking ahead

The Badgers will travel south to face No. 12 Texas A&M on Friday, Sept. 11, with the first serve scheduled for 8 p.m. on the SEC ESPN Network.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.