College Station, Texas – The Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team delivered a dramatic comeback on Friday night, edging the No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies in a five‑set thriller (18‑25, 25‑23, 23‑25, 25‑22, 15‑11). The win marked Wisconsin’s fourth victory of the season and its second triumph over the Aggies in College Station.
Key performances drive Badgers’ comeback
Setter Charlie Fuerbringer posted a career‑double‑double with 43 assists, 19 digs and a career‑high eight kills, nearly reaching a triple‑double. Outside hitter Eva Travis led all scorers with a season‑high 15 kills on 45 swings, while freshman Decelise Champion made an impressive debut, contributing eight kills and eight blocks.
Defensive specialist Kristen Simon recorded a match‑high 24 digs, underscoring the Badgers’ aggressive back‑court play. Middle blocker Natalie Wardlow set a personal best with nine blocks, helping Wisconsin achieve a season‑high 17 total blocks – the first double‑digit block total of the year.
Set‑by‑set recap
The Aggies surged ahead early, taking the first set 25‑18 after a 10‑3 start. Wisconsin responded with a 3‑0 run sparked by a block, but Texas A&M reclaimed momentum with a 4‑0 run to close the set.
In the second set, Wisconsin jumped to a 5‑1 lead, with back‑row kills from Audrey Flanagan and Grace Lopez. An ace from Isabelle Hoppe gave the Badgers a 10‑9 edge, and the team closed the set 25‑23, out‑blocking the Aggies 5‑0 in that frame alone.
The third set saw both teams trade points, tying the score 13 times. Wisconsin held a narrow 16‑15 lead before Texas A&M pulled ahead to win 25‑23, despite Wisconsin posting a .333 hitting percentage, the highest of the match.
Wisconsin rebounded in the fourth set, sparking a 4‑0 run to take a 15‑10 advantage. After a brief Aggie response, Champion’s consecutive kills helped the Badgers seal the set 25‑22, tying the match at two sets apiece.
The decisive fifth set began with an Aggie lead, but Travis’s consecutive kills and an ace from Anna Bardaro gave Wisconsin a 12‑11 edge. A three‑point run later secured the final 15‑11 victory.
Implications and next steps
With the win, Wisconsin improves to 9‑3 all‑time against Texas A&M in College Station, evening the series in that venue. The Badgers also remain unbeaten in five‑set matches, now 2‑0. The victory adds momentum as Wisconsin prepares to travel to Austin for a matchup against the No. 9 Texas Longhorns on Sunday, September 13, with the first serve slated for 2 p.m. on ESPN.
A crowd of 9,211 fans filled Reed Arena, underscoring the strong community support for top‑25 collegiate volleyball in the region.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
