The Badgers outlasted Ohio State in four sets, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, on Nov. 13 at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio.
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After the Buckeyes won the first set – their third set won against a ranked opponent in 2026 – the Badgers comfortably won the second and third sets and narrowly won the fourth set en route to their 93rd consecutive win over an unranked team.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin defensive specialist Kristen Simon goes for a dig during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin defensive specialist Kristen Simon goes for a dig during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin defensive specialist Kristen Simon watches as libero Anna Bardaro goes for a dig during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) goes up for the ball during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (left) and middle blocker Jaela Auguste (right) go up for a block during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin outside hitter Eva Travis goes up for an attack attempt during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin middle blocker Lynney Tarnow (20) and her teammates celebrate a point during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin middle blocker Jaela Auguste’s attack attempt gets blocked during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin libero Anna Bardaro (2) sets the ball during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin volleyball players Eva Travis (5), Jaela Auguste (4) and Charlie Fuerbringer (24) celebrate a point during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan jogs along the end line during a timeout in the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin libero Anna Bardaro serves during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin right-side hitter Decelise Champion goes up for an attack during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer digs a ball during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin outside hitter Audrey Flanagan serves during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin volleyball players celebrate a point during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin middle blocker Natalie Wardlow serves during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin associate head coach Brittany Dildine talks with outside hitter Eva Travis during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (left) and right-side hitter Decelise Champion (right) during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin outside hitter Audrey Flanagan serves during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin outside hitter Eva Travis (5) celebrates a point with her teammates during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin outside hitter Audrey Flanagan digs a ball during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
(John Steppe / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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Best photos from Wisconsin volleyball’s matches vs Washington, Michigan
Wisconsin outside hitter Audrey Flanagan takes a swing during the Badgers’ five-set loss to Washington at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 23, 2026.
Wisconsin showed off its array of attack options with some exceptionally balanced performances.
Outside hitter Decelise Champion led the Badgers with 15 kills while only committing one attack error and hitting .467.
Fellow outside hitter Grace Egan, middle blocker Jaela Auguste and right-side hitter Grace Lopez each finished with 13 kills. Middle blocker Lynney Tarnow also had 12 kills.
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The five aforementioned players each took a range of 20 to 34 attacks, and four of them hit .367 or better. Egan’s 13 kills were her second-most in a match this season, trailing only her 17 kills in a five-set thriller against then-No. 17 Florida. The big performance came against her former school.
The Badgers’ .366 hitting percentage against the Buckeyes was their sixth-highest of the season (and second-highest on the road).
Wisconsin brings pressure from service line
Wisconsin had an obvious advantage at the service line, finishing with a season-high 10 aces. Those were the most for the Badgers in a Big Ten match since the 2024 win over Maryland.
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Kristen Simon – Wisconsin’s starting libero for the second consecutive match – was responsible for four of those aces, marking a new career-high. Middle blocker Natalie Wardlow had another four aces, which tied her career-high.
Wisconsin committed four service errors in four sets – down from its previous season average of 2.33 service errors per set. Ohio State, meanwhile, finished with four aces and eight service errors.
Wisconsin volleyball players Eva Travis (5), Jaela Auguste (4) and Charlie Fuerbringer (24) celebrate a point during the Badgers’ four-set win over Michigan at the UW Field House in Madison on Oct. 25, 2026.
Ohio State’s Naomy Govou, Hannah Jones challenge Badgers
Ohio State’s success in the first set and competitiveness in the fourth set had two constants – Naomy Govou and Hannah Jones.
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Govou ultimately led the Buckeyes with 25 kills while hitting .442. Jones had 17 kills with a .484 hitting percentage. No other Buckeyes finished with more than six kills against the Badgers.
In the first set in particular, Ohio State benefited from Govou’s 11 kills and Jones’ eight kills. Neither outside hitter committed any attack errors in the set. The Buckeyes finished the set with a whopping 22 kills.
Fast-forward to the fourth set, and Govou delivered another seven kills while committing only one attack error. Jones was quieter, recording three kills and two errors in the deciding set.
The two star outside hitters helped Ohio State finish the match with a .360 hitting percentage – higher than any other team that Wisconsin has defeated in 2026.
