LOS ANGELES, California – The No. 6 Wisconsin volleyball team had three players reach double figures as they defeated UCLA 20-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-15 on Saturday night.

UW hit .402 (59 kills – 8 errors – 127 attempts) as Sara Franklin led the way with 19 murders. Anna Smrek added 16, while Julia Orzol ended with 11 kills.

UCLA’s Cheridyn Leverette scored a match-high 20 kills as the Bruins hit .192 (48 – 23 – 130) on the night.

Wisconsin’s Gulce Guctekin And Lola Schumacher were both out with injuries, Saige Damrow got the starting nod from libero and Email Chan took over the DS position.

In set one, the teams went back and forth with eight ties, but it was at the 14-all that UCLA (12-13, 6-10 B1G) separated from UW (20-5, 14-2 B1G) with a 4-1 run as the Badgers called a timeout trailing 15-18. After the break, middle blocker Anna Dodson made back-to-back solo blocks to force another quick timeout for Wisconsin at 15-20. The Badgers cut the score within three minutes trailing 19-22 and the Bruins called a timeout, but it was too little too late as UCLA took set one 25-20.

Wisconsin got back on track in set two. A 6-1 run by the Badgers lifted them to a 10-6 lead. UCLA called a timeout to get back together when they trailed 6-10. From the break, the Bruins tied the score at 10, but failed to take the lead. Wisconsin didn’t let them stay that long Charlie Fuerbringer scored two aces to give UW a 14-10 lead. Leverette scored back-to-back kills to make it 14-12 in Wisconsin’s favor. From there, Wisconsin went on an 11-3 run to win set two 25-15.

The Badgers and Bruins battled each other early in the third set. UCLA led by as many as three at 12-9 before the Badgers scored five straight kills to move ahead 14-12. UCLA tied the score at 16 again, but again failed to take the lead. They went point for point, but came out with a set of seven kills Anna Smrek helped UW to the 25-22 victory in set three.

In the final set, Wisconsin jumped out to a 4-1 lead and further expanded its lead. UCLA called a timeout after a block by Smrek and Carter Booth to give UW an 11-6 lead. The Badgers built an 18-11 lead, leading to a UCLA timeout, but the deficit was too big as UW took the final set 25-15.

Fuerbringer had 47 assists on the night, combined with her two service aces. The Badgers had four aces total, with Orzol and Damrow adding one each.

Damrow led the team with a career-high 15 digs. Orzol added 12 and ended the night with a double-double.

Despite being knocked out in the first set, UW finished at the top of the blocks column (12.0-5.0), with Booth at five.

Notes to know

• Anna Smrek hit a season-best .609. She had 16 kills with only two errors on 23 attempts.
• Redshirt freshman Saige Damrow started tonight in the libero jersey for the Badgers. She recorded a career-best 15 digs.
• Freshman Email Chan put up a team-best six digs against UCLA tonight.
• For the 23rd game, outside hitter Sara Franklin reached double figures. Franklin counted 19 murders.
• For the 16th time this season, the Badgers reached .300 or better. The Badgers posted a .402 hitting percentage (59 kills – 8 errors – 127 attempts).
• Wisconsin had 17 service errors, matching a season-high since Louisville on Aug. 27.
• Senior Julia Orzol recorded her 12th career double-double and second of the season with 11 kills and 12 digs.

Next

The Badgers welcome No. 16 Minnesota to the UW FIeld House on Wednesday night. The first service is scheduled for 8 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.