(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – For the sixth time in program history, the Wisconsin volleyball team is heading to the NCAA National Semifinals after beating No. 6 Oregon 25-22, 25-22, 25-27, 25-18, in the regional finals at the UW Field House on Saturday night. After winning the first two sets, Oregon (29-6) battled back to take the third set in extra points. But the fourth set was all Wisconsin (30-3).
The third-ranked Badgers led 9-8 in the final set before Izzy Ashburn went back to serve, keying a 7-0 run. Three kills from Sarah Franklin aided UW to a 14-8 lead. The Ducks cut that lead to five, including at 21-16, but Wisconsin responded each time and didn’t allow more than a two-point run from Oregon. The Badgers earned match point at 24-16 on a block from Devyn Robinson and Carter Booth but Oregon held off two set points before missing a serve that sent Wisconsin to Tampa. Wisconsin’s block keyed the win as the Badgers outblocked the Ducks, 16-4. Booth led all players with nine blocks as Anna Smrek and CC Crawford each added seven stuffs.
Franklin led the charge offensively, totaling 20 kills. Temi Thomas-Ailara put down 11 kills, while Smrek added 10. The Badgers hit .313 (59 kills – 12 errors -150 attempts) on the night. MJ Hammill (26 assists) and Izzy Ashburn (23 assists) set up the UW offense.Oregon finished the match hitting .207 (64 – 28 – 174) as outside hitter Mimi Colyer shared match-high honors with 20 kills.
In the backcourt, Gulce Guctekin had match-high 17 digs with libero Julia Orzol was not far behind with 16 saves. Franklin added 11 to complete her eighth double-double of the season. Oregon edged the Badgers, 73-70 in digs.
The Ducks also had the advantage in service aces, scoring seven times from the service line while Wisconsin tallied four service aces — one each from Guctekin, Franklin, Hammill and Ashburn.
After an even start to set one, it was all tied up at seven apiece before Guctekin went back to serve. The defensive specialist scored a service ace followed by back-to-back kills from Franklin pushed the Badgers to an 11-7 lead. Oregon started to chip away and responded with three service aces of their own and brought it back within one point (17-16). However, the Badgers responded right back with a quick 3-0 run to force an Oregon timeout at 20-16. The Ducks bounced back before forcing a UW time out at 23-21. The Ducks made it 23-22 before another kill from Franklin and an Oregon hitting error gave UW set one.
After a strong Oregon start to the second set, the Badgers battled back from down five (8-3) to take a 9-8 lead fueled by five straight serves from Orzol. Oregon sided out but UW came right back on a 5-1 run with back-to-back kills from Franklin to lead 14-10. The Ducks responded with a 4-0 run to tie it up at 14 apiece. The teams battled back and forth with 11 ties total, including at 22-all, before Wisconsin iced the set with a 3-0 run to take the second set 25-22.
Oregon came out in set three on fire to take a 13-6 lead. The Badgers cut the Ducks lead to two several times but it wasn’t until a kill by Thomas-Ailara tied it up at 23 apiece. UW fought off two Oregon set points but the Ducks scored on a hitting and a Badger hitting error to make it 2-1 in the match
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