Wisconsin (16-13, 5-13) wrapped up its last home game of the year with a solid victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-20, 2-16). The Badgers won in four convincing sets on Saturday night, and were happy to end the home season with a win on senior night.

“I’m especially happy for our seniors that they were able to go out on a high note in front of their fans here in the Field House,” head coach Pete Waite said. “[They] all played well, did a nice job and really had fun with the fans.”

Besides the third set, Wisconsin basically dominated the Hawkeyes. The Badgers had an impressive .286 hitting percentage on the night with many players stepping up big in the win.

Senior Allison Wack had a team-high 17 kills for the Badgers, while sophomore Alexis Mitchell added another 15 kills and a .370 hitting percentage.

The win was an all around team effort. Many players who hadn’t played much throughout the season got their chance and made the best of it.

Mary Ording was one of the players who was a big contributor coming off the bench. She had six kills and a .385 hitting percentage for Wisconsin.

“[Mary’s] done well this season, and [she’s] really making good improvements,” Waite said. “She’s one of the hardest workers on the team. With Julie being out, Mary stepped right in and she’s been preparing for that.”

A lot of the Badgers’ success offensively can be attributed to their improved passing. The previous night Wisconsin lost to Minnesota in three sets, and they weren’t able to find a groove on offense like they did against Iowa.

“Gabrielsen and Jessa [Benson] both did a good job spreading out the offense, so when I was getting the ball I was one on one and the passes they were putting up there were great,” Mitchell said.

The Badgers played a great game on the other side of the ball too. Their stellar defense held Iowa to a lowly .065 hitting percentage. Wisconsin seemed to be in control of all aspects of the game.

“We talked about our blocking improving and hitting a goal of a certain about of blocks per set before the match, and we pretty much hit it head on,” Waite said. “That makes a big difference.”

For Allison Wack, Kim Kuzma and Jessa Benson, it was their last home game as Badgers. The seniors were happy finishing their careers on a positive note at home and reflected on their last game at the Field House.

“To get the win was amazing for our last home match,” Benson said. “I told these guys before the game started that it hasn’t hit me yet, and I don’t think it will until it comes time to come back for spring training and we’re not coming to the Field House to practice everyday.”

Wack and Kuzma had similar reactions to their last home game.

“It was great, especially winning those games big,” Wack said. “It was a team effort and everyone was contributing. It hasn’t really hit me yet that that was the last [home] game.”

“It’s hit me a little bit,” Kuzma said. “It was definitely nice to get the win. I feel like everyone did a great job tonight too, and it was all around a good effort and was so much more fun to play like that.”