The No. 2-seed Wisconsin Badgers rallied back to beat No. 7-seed Georgia Tech to advance to the third round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Friday.
After dropping the first set of the match 27-25, the Badgers rallied back to defeat the Yellow Jackets 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 in the ensuing sets to punch a ticket to the Sweet 16 for the twelfth straight season.
Star outside hitter Sarah Franklin followed her 12-kill, three-block effort against Fairfield on Thursday with a team-high 20 kills against Georgia Tech. Anna Smrek accounted for 13 kills and nine blocks, and veterans Carter Booth and Devyn Robinson combined for 18 kills and 11 blocks in the comeback victory.
Unlike its 3-0 sweet against Fairfield on Dec. 5, Georgia Tech posed an early challenge for UW. The Yellow Jackets refused to quit in each set and forced Wisconsin to earn the 3-1 win through late rallies.
Georgia Tech actually notched five more kills and 11 more assists than the Badgers on the evening, but the Badgers hit .265 with 10 fewer errors than the Yellow Jackets.
The Regionals schedule is set 🏐
📲 https://t.co/zyCHYhVtiD#NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/WWTWw1YmI6
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 8, 2024
Wisconsin is now set to square off against No. 6-seed Texas A&M in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on ESPN2.
If UW snatches the Sweet 16 victory over the Aggies, it will likely face No. 1-seed Nebraska in the Elite 8. The Cornhuskers have vanquished the Badgers in six straight sets this season and are arguably the best team in the country.
The latest come-from-behind win could work in UW’s favor. While a sweep may indicate dominance, adversity can harden a team with championship aspirations on its mind.