Tag: wisconsin volleyball

Wisconsin volleyball swept by Nebraska, ends season in Regional Final of 2024 NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin volleyball swept by Nebraska, ends season in Regional Final of 2024 NCAA Tournament

The No. 2-seed Wisconsin Badgers fell to the No.1-seed Nebraska Cornhuskers in the fourth round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

After vanquishing No. 6-seed Texas A&M in five sets in the tournament’s third round, the Badgers could not overcome arguably the best team in the nation.

Staged in Nebraskaโ€™s Devaney Center, the Cornhuskers claimed all three sets 26-24, 25-17, 25-21 to advance to theย Final Four in Louisville, Kentucky.

Superstar Sarah Franklin finished with a team-best 12 kills and added one block in the effort. Anna Smrek added nine kills and three blocks, Julia Orzol finished with seven kills and Carter Booth added six kills and three blocks.

The loss marks the Badgers’ third loss via sweep against Nebraska this season. The Cornhuskers have lost just two matches this season and are poised to claim their first title since 2017 and sixth in program history.

Nebraska will now face the winner of Penn State-Creighton in the Final Four. The winner of that contest will square off against the victor of Pittsburgh vs. Louisville.

Wisconsin finishes the season with a 26-7 mark in a roller coaster of a season. The team dropped three straight to begin the year before winning 21 of its ensuing 23 matches in a two-month span.

The Badgers remained within the top 10 of the weekly AVCA rankings for the duration of the season, but the team didn’t appear as dominant as it did a season ago when it lost to Texas in the 2023 Final Four.

Wisconsin volleyball defeats Georgia Tech, moves on in 2024 NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin volleyball defeats Georgia Tech, moves on in 2024 NCAA Tournament

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.

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.

Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Fairfield, advances to second round of 2024 NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Fairfield, advances to second round of 2024 NCAA Tournament

The No. 2-seed Wisconsin Badgers swept the Fairfield Stags to advance to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

The Badgers didn’t struggle in separating from Fairfield, winning 25-16, 25-16 and 25-14 before a jam-packed home crowd to punch their ticket to the Second Round against No. 7 Georgia Tech.

Senior middle blocker Anna Smrek finished with a team-best 14 kills and added five blocks, while back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year Sarah Franklin finished with 12 kills and three blocks in the effort.

As a team, Wisconsin tallied 48 kills to Fairfield’s 29, 45 assists to the Stags’ 27 and seven aces to Fairfield’s one. With the win, UW moves to 26-1 all-time in the first round of the tournament.

Kelly Sheffield’s eyes are certainly not set on a first-round victory over a team from the MAAC. For this season to be a success, his squad will need to vanquish the No. 1-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers in the tournament’s quarterfinal round.

Wisconsin is 0-2 against Nebraska this season, but the team’s history of consistent postseason success is undeniable. Wisconsin’s next test vs. Georgia Tech is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday and will be broadcasted on ESPN +.

Wisconsin volleyball superstar earns second straight Big Ten Player of the Year award

Wisconsin volleyball superstar earns second straight Big Ten Player of the Year award

Wisconsin Badgers superstar outside hitter Sarah Franklin earned a second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Year award on Wednesday.

Franklin, arguably the best college volleyball player in the United States, boasts one of the greatest collegiate resumes of all time. In her tenure with Wisconsin, she has been named the 2023 AVCA National Player of the Year, a 2023 AVCA First-Team All-American member and and was nominated for the ‘Best Female Collegiate Athlete’ ESPY in 2023.

In 29 matches as a starter this season, Franklin posted 470 kills, 39 assists and 28 service aces. Franklin also leads Wisconsin with 4.48 kills per set, recorded a program-best 33 kills against Marquette earlier this season and noticedย double-digit kills in 27 matches in 2024.

Franklin has been the No. 1 option for Wisconsin during its 23-6 output this year. Wisconsin will compete as one of four No. 2-seeded teams in the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament with a match against Fairfield slated for Dec. 5.

A season ago, Franklin was a member of Wisconsin’s 2023 team that finished the season 30-6. That crew made it to the semifinal round of the 2023 Tournament and lost to No. 1 Texas.

Wisconsin will look to capture its second title in program history this season. To do so, it will need to overcome No. 1 Nebraska in the fourth round to clinch a berth to the Final Four.

Wisconsin Volleyball receives seed, opponent for 2024 NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin Volleyball receives seed, opponent for 2024 NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin volleyball received its seed and opponent for the 2024 Division I Women’s Volleyball Official Bracket on Sunday.

A day after vanquishing the Michigan State Spartans 3-1 on Nov. 30 at Wisconsin’s iconic Field House, the Badgers received the No. 2 seed in the lower right region of this year’s bracket.

The Badgers are set to square off against Fairfield in the first round of the tournament on Dec. 5 at 7:00 p.m. CT. They will host the Stags at the Field House before squaring off against the winner of No. 7 Tennessee and Georgia on Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Notably, Wisconsin is a member of Nebraska’s bracket. The Cornhuskers swept the Badgers in both of their meetings this season and hold the No. 2 overall ranking in the country. They will compete as the No. 1 seed in the lower right region.

UW is in search of its second NCAA title in program history. Its most recent triumph came in 2021 against Nebraska in Columbus.

A season ago, the Badgers competed as the No. 1 seed in the upper right region. Kelly Sheffield’s team advanced all the way to the national semifinals before losing to the Texas Longhorns.

If Wisconsin wishes to make it to another Final Four, they will need to secure wins over Fairfield, No. 7 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Arizona State and the aforementioned Nebraska Cornhuskers.

This season, UW went 23-6. Superstar Sarah Franklin leads the Badgers in both points (524.5) and kills (470).

Wisconsin Badgers volleyball rises in latest AVCA rankings

Wisconsin Badgers volleyball rockets up in latest AVCA rankings

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccurate headline.

Wisconsin’s volleyball team jumped to No. 6 in the latest release of the AVCA rankings.

The Badgers are back near the top after overcoming a disappointing 0-3 start.

Pittsburgh earned the No. 1 spot in the latest ranking. It is followed by 2023 runner-up Nebraska, 2022 runner-up Louisville, No. 4 Penn State and 2022 and 2023 national champion Texas in the top five. The Badgers landed just above 2018 and 2019 national champion Stanford and No. 8 Purdue.

The Badgers were ranked third in the 2024 Preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association in late August. The team is 18-5 with losses to preseason No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Nebraska, No. 5 Stanford, No. 6 Louisville and No. 18 Minnesota.

One week earlier, the Badgers were No. 7. Their rise to No. 6 comes after Kelly Sheffield’s team swept both Iowa and No. 3 Penn State in back-to-back matches at the UW Field House.

Against the Nittany Lions, Wisconsin dominated with 25-23, 25-12 and 25-13 finishes in the 3-0 win.

The Badgers registered a .465 hitting percentage with 50 kills on 101 attempts. Superstar Sarah Franklin and middle blocker/right side hitter Anna Smrek accounted for 13 kills apiece.

UW looks to build off its recent win against No. 20 USC on Nov. 14.

Badger legend becomes winningest coach in Wisconsin volleyball history

Badger legend becomes winningest coach in Wisconsin volleyball history

Wisconsin legend Kelly Sheffield became the winningest coach in Badgers volleyball history on Thursday.

With the 3-0 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, Indiana, Sheffield secured win No. 306 with the program. He surpassed Pete Waite, who served as UW’s coach from 1999-2012.

Superstar outside hitter Sarah Franklin finished with 15 kills and four blocks in the victory, while senior Anna Smrek collected 10 kills and seven blocks and senior Caroline Crawford notched her 600th career block. The Badgers wound up sweeping the Hoosiers 25-23, 25-18, 25-13.

In 11 years under Sheffield’s tutelage, Wisconsin’s volleyball program has experienced unrivaled success on the court. The Muncie, Indiana, native has captained the Badgers to the 2021 NCAA Championship, five NCAA Final Fours and 11 consecutive NCAA Sweet 16-or-better tournament finishes.

Wisconsin has claimed five Big Ten titles, 42 All-America honors and produced superstars including Sarah Franklin and Dana Rettke, two former AVCA National Players of the Year.

The Badgers’ model for success certainly extends into this year. After starting the season 0-3, Wisconsin has rattled off eight wins in a row and a 14-1 mark since Sept. 2. Wisconsin currently holds the No. 8 spot in the AVCA Rankings and will look to improve its national status with a win against No. 10 Purdue on Saturday night.

Wisconsin volleyball dominates in-state foe, secures third straight win

Wisconsin volleyball dominates in-state foe, secures third straight win

The Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team picked up its third straight victory against in-state rival UW-Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Fueled by a balanced offensive attack, the Badgers dominated the Panthers in three consecutive sets, 25-13, 25-13, 25-14, to win their first game of the season at the storied UW Field House. The win catapults Kelly Sheffield’s squad to 3-3 to start the 2024 campaign.

Senior outside hitter Julia Orzol led the way with 14 kills, four blocks and two aces. Fifth-year middle blocker Devyn Robinson followed with 13 kills and four blocks while veteran C.C. Crawford tallied seven kills and blocks.

Freshman Charlie Fuerbringer also registered a team-best 35 assists and 10 digs to secure a double-double in front of a raucous home crowd.

While the competition is nowhere near what UW will encounter in the NCAA Tournament this spring, the Badgers did look like the dominant team fans grew accustomed to witnessing during its 30-4 campaign in 2023.

After losing its first three contests against No. 4 Louisville, No. 6 Texas and No. 2 Stanford, Wisconsin trounced TCU, No. 23 Baylor prior to defeating UW-Milwaukee in Madison. The platoon recently earned the No. 8 spot in the AVCA Rankings and will look to scale the hierarchy with a match against another in-state rival, Marquette, awaiting on Sept. 17 at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin volleyball dips once more in AVCA Ranking after back-to-back wins

Wisconsin volleyball dips once more in AVCA Ranking after back-to-back wins

Despite winning back-to-back contests, Wisconsin volleyball slid to No. 8 on the latest edition of the AVCA Rankings.

Wisconsin, who entered the 2024 slate with the No. 3 in the 2024 Preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association hierarchy, most recently dipped to No. 6 in the national polls after dropping its first three bouts toย No. 4 Louisville, No. 6 Texas and No. 2 Stanford.

UW has bounced back during the past week, however, with victories over Texas Christian University and Baylor during the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge.

Wisconsin now owns a 2-3 record to begin the season. The Kelly Sheffield-led team compiled a remarkable 30-4 overall record in 2023, which likely prompted voters to keep this year’s squad inside the top 10.

The 3-0 Pittsburgh Panthers now own the top spot in this week’s rankings, followed by Stanford, Penn State, Louisville and Nebraska respectively

Wisconsin superstar Sarah Franklin still holds the lead for kills among all Badgers with 100, followed by co-captain Devyn Robinson with 61. Freshman Charlie Fuerbringer has totaled 218 assists through five games, 209 more than any other Badger.

UW’s most notable matches are slated against #24 Marquette on Sept. 17, #18 Minnesota on Sept. 25, #12 Oregon on Oct. 18 and #8 Purdue on Oct. 26. Any wins outside the top-25 will likely keep Wisconsin within the same tier of the AVCA’s pecking order come next week.

Wisconsin volleyball picks up first win of season in five-set triumph over TCU

Wisconsin volleyball picks up first win of season in five-set triumph over TCU

The Wisconsin Badgers’ volleyball team picked up its first victory of the season against Texas Christian University on Friday.

Wisconsin won its first set of the evening 25-15 but dropped its ensuing sets 27-29 and 21-25. With its back against the wall, UW rallied to win its final two sets 25-16 and 15-11 to erase its 0-3 start to the 2024 slate.

The match was the first of this season’s Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. Wisconsin will square off against #23 Baylor with a chance to return to the top 5 of the AVCA rankings following the Sept. 7 bout.

All-world talent Sarah Franklin captained the Badgers’ offensive attack on Friday. Her 18 kills led the team while co-captain Devyn Robinson recorded 17 kills and Carolina Crawford added 12.

Julia Orzol, Charlie Furerbringer, Gulce Guctekin and Lola Schumacher all recorded double-digit kills as well.

Wisconsin’s uncharacteristic 0-3 start prompted early skepticism from Badger faithful. The crew did, however, face off against No. 6 Louisville, No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Stanford in its first three contests.

If UW had dropped its fourth straight to TCU, an unranked opponent, the cause for concern would be more than appropriate.

Luckily for Wisconsin, its schedule lessens in difficulty for the remainder of the season. The next marquee match arrives on Oct. 26 against the No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers.

If the Badgers can avoid losing five or more games, the team will be positioned for yet another deep playoff run with some added momentum.