(UW ATHLETICS) LINCOLN, Neb. – The No. 2 seeded Wisconsin volleyball team was swept by No. 1 Nebraska 24-26, 17-25, 21-25 in the NCAA Regional Final on Sunday afternoon.
Nebraska swept Wisconsin in all three meetings between the two teams this season.
The Badgers were led by Sarah Franklin with 12 kills, as the team hit .126 (38 kills – 22 errors – 127 attempts) on the day.
The Huskers hit .210 (42 – 17 – 119), with Taylor Landfair leading the way with a match-high 13 kills.
The match started with the two teams going kill-for-kill before a 4-0 serving run from Gulce Guctekin, fueled by a kill and a block from Julia Orzol, pushed the Badgers ahead 6-4. UW upped their lead to 11-7 after back-to-back aces by Charlie Fuerbringer. Nebraska (33-2) took the lead at 15-14 after a triple block on Sarah Franklin’s hit out of the back row. The Huskers maintained that lead to force a UW timeout. Out of the break, Nebraska scored three more to take a 21-16 advantage and force a second Wisconsin timeout. The Badgers rallied to tie it up at 24-all after two kills in a row from Anna Smrek. A service error by Lola Schumacher and a kill by Taylor Landfair gave Nebraska the first set, 26-24.
Nebraska came out strong in set two to take a commanding 8-2 lead. The Badgers sided out with a kill by CC Crawford, but the Huskers sided out right away and extended their cushion to a 10-point lead (14-4). Wisconsin slowly chipped away at the lead, bringing it back within five on two occasions at 15-10 and then again at 22-17. The Huskers scored the final three points to win it, 25-17.
Wisconsin picked up the intensity in the third set, notching back-to-back blocks followed by a kill to take a 5-2 lead. The Huskers put together a quick 3-0 run to tie it back up at 7-7. The Badgers took a four-point lead heading into the media timeout. Out of the timeout, the Huskers ran four-straight to force a Wisconsin timeout. Smrek tallied a kill to side out, but Nebraska picked right back up where they left off with another 4-0 burst to take a 19-16 lead. Franklin brought it within one (20-21) with a kill, but Nebraska pulled away and took the set and match, 25-21.
Fuerbringer finished with 32 assists and nine digs. Franklin and Orzol each finished with nine digs, as well. Nebraska out-blocked Wisconsin 12.0-9.0, Crawford led the team with five blocks.
Fuerbringer had all three service aces for Wisconsin on the day.
Straight from the court
Head coach Kelly Sheffield
On the team’s effort: “So proud of our efforts. I thought we stayed in a fight all the way to the end there. There’s a reason why these guys haven’t lost a tournament match at home in a long time. You’re gonna get their best effort and that’s certainly part our team and the effort that they gave.”
Outside hitter Sarah Franklin
On Nebraska defense: “I mean, it just makes the game harder. They were all over the floor and I felt myself making some pretty decent shots and they’d get it up and come back with the same type of shot. It’s definitely just trying to continue to battle through that throughout the whole match.”
Setter Charlie Fuerbringer
On the last match with this group: “I’m just super proud of our fight throughout the whole season. I think we improved so much more than a lot of other teams and I’m just so grateful to be surrounded by these girls. They’re amazing and the worst part about losing today is not being able to play with them next year for sure.”
Notes to know
- Wisconsin wraps up the season 26-7. This marks the 14th consecutive season where the Badgers recorded 20 or more wins.
- The Badgers move to 67-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
- Outside hitter Sarah Franklin reached double-figure kills (12) for the 29th time this season.
- She finishes with a Wisconsin career total 1,421kills – seventh-most in program history.
- Nebraska held the Badgers to a .126 hitting percentage (38-22-127), and the seventh time Wisconsin has been held under .200 hitting percentage.
- In each of the previous two matches against Nebraska, the Huskers held Wisconsin under a .200 hitting percentage.
Lincoln All-Regional Team
MVP: Harper Murray, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, Nebraska
Lexi Rodriguez, Nebraska
Sarah Franklin, Wisconsin
Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M
Lexie Almodovar, Dayton
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