(WNFL/UWBadgers.com/GoMarquette.com) – And then there were 8. The Wisconsin Badgers women’s volleyball team is one of 8 still dancing in the NCAA tournament after a 5-set match against Penn State yesterday at the Field House in Madison. The Badgers won the first 2 sets 25-21, 25-19, dropped the next 2 23-25, 20-25 and then won the fifth and deciding set 15-8.
Wisconsin’s block was the key to its win. The Badgers out-blocked the Nittany Lions, 23-9, with Caroline Crawford (pictured left) leading all players with a career-high 12 stuffs, including three in the fifth set. Anna Smrek and Danielle Hart were close behind with eight stops apiece while Sarah Franklin added a career-high six stop blocks. Devyn Robinson also had six stuffs.
The Badger block held Penn State (26-8) to a .056 (56-46-179) team hitting percentage, including a negative .064 percentage in the second set. Wisconsin hit .182 (49-22-148) for the match behind a .579 (13-2-19) hitting percentage from Smrek.
The Badgers will play Penn State Saturday night at 7 at the Field House with the winner advancing to the Final Four.
Marquette’s volleyball season came to an end yesterday. The fourth-seeded and No. 16 Marquette University women’s volleyball team fell to No. 1 Texas, 25-14, 25-13, 19-25, 25-17, on Thursday afternoon in the third round of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship at Gregory Gym.
The Golden Eagles (29-4) were able to rally for the third set victory behind six kills in the frame from redshirt freshman middle blocker Hattie Bray, who posted 10 kills in the match and hit .375. Outside hitter Jenna Reitsma led MU with team highs of 12 kills and 11 digs.
The Golden Eagles finish their season with a 29-4 record.
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