Seattle University seemingly had control of the third set after scoring seven unanswered points early in the set, four on blocks at the net, to take an 8-4 lead. Down 23-17, Wisconsin scored the final eight points of the set to regain the momentum and take a 2-1 lead into the fourth set.
Wisconsin (2-2) carried that momentum into the fourth set, scoring five of the first six points and never looking back. After hitting just above .100 in sets two and three, the Badgers used a hitting percentage of .394 along with three team blocks to close out the match in their favor.
The second set was tight throughout, but Wisconsin managed to keep a slight advantage, going up by as much as five points at 17-12. Kills by Kaytlyn Dill and Jordan Keller, along with a block from Keller and Janet Beckerman, brought SeattleU within one point at 20-19. After the Badgers extended the lead to 23-20, the Redhawks scored the final five points, three of them off blocks, to take the second set and tie the match heading into the intermission.
The first set was tied at 2-2 before Wisconsin went on a 7-2 run to open a five-point lead and force Seattle University into calling a timeout. Kills by Beckerman and Cristin Richards as well as a block by Jamie Mellies and Kelly Biette allowed the Redhawks to come within two, but the two teams started trading points, and another 6-2 run by Wisconsin allowed the Badgers to earn the opening set victory.
As a team, the Redhawks tied the school single-match record for team blocks with 17. Keller led the way with two solo blocks and seven block assists to go along with seven kills, with Beckerman earning a solo block and six block assists along with five kills. Biette had five block assists, and Richards finished with a solo block and four block assists to go with 12 kills and 11 digs.
Seeing her first action of the season in the second set, Dill led all players with 14 kills, plus she had a service ace and nine digs. Mellies collected 35 assists, two aces, five digs, and two block assists, and libero Emily Deleissegues led all players in the match with 18 defensive digs.
Brittney Dolgner helped Wisconsin win the final two sets, leading the team with 12 kills and 12 digs. Setter Janelle Gabrielsen finished with 36 assists, six kills, ten digs, and four block assists, while Kelsey Maloney earned eight kills and a team-high six block assists. Allison Wack and Caity DuPont each finished with nine kills, and libero Kim Kuzma contributed eight assists and 11 digs.
Seattle University (1-4) continues play in the Active Ankle Challenge Sunday, first facing Oregon State, the host school, at 12:30 p.m. The Redhawks will then go against Cal State Fullerton in their final match of the weekend at 5 p.m.