Facing Minnesota for the third-time this season, the fourth-seeded Wisconsin volleyball team swept the Golden Gophers to punch its ticket to the NCAA National Semifinals on Thursday, December 11, 2021.
Wisconsin (29-3) completed the season sweep of Minnesota (22-9) with a 25-18, 26-24, 25-22 win.
Wisconsin advances to its third-straight national semifinal appearance in convincing fashion, winning their fourth-straight NCAA tournament match by a 3-0 score. The Badgers have also won 18 straight sets, not having dropped a set since playing Nebraska for the Big Ten championship on Nov. 26.
With both sides coming out of match with some early nerves, the first set features nine ties and three lead changes, including at 13-13. With Izzy Ashburn behind the service line, Wisconsin went on a 4-0 run, including an ace for the junior. UW was up 19-15 before two Devyn Robinson kills put Wisconsin up 21-15. The Badgers served for set point at 24-17 off a Grace Loberg kill but Minnesota held off one set point before Dana Rettke and Sydney Hilley connected for a kill and the set win.
The second set put the battle in border battle. Wisconsin was down three, 15-12, before a 4-0 run with two kills from Jade Demps put the Badgers in the lead at 16-15. Minnesota was able to tie it up 16-16 and five more ties ensued before a Rettke kill put Wisconsin up 23-22. Rettke took her place behind the service line for just the eighth time this season, recording her first service ace of the year to make it set point 24-22. The Gophers held off two Badger set points, tying it up 24-, before Hilley and Robinson combined for a block to give UW its third set point at 25-24. A Minnesota attack error gave the Badgers the set win, 26-24.
It was a defensive battle in the third set with Wisconsin out-blocking Minnesota, 6-2. Both teams hit their lowest hitting percentage of the match; the Badgers hit .136 (13 kills - 7 errors - 44 attempts) and the Gophers hit .079 (11-8-38). Wisconsin won the set 25-22, behind six kills from Rettke and four blocks from Robinson.
As a team, the Badgers hit .258 (51-18-128) while holding the Gophers to .193 (37-15-114). Rettke had a match-high 15 kills and led all players with a .520 (15-2-25) hitting percentage. Robinson also recorded double-digit kills with 11.
Hilley put up 43 assists running the Badger offense and recorded her second-straight double-double, adding 12 digs. Lauren Barnes led all players with 14 saves as Wisconsin edged the Gophers 54-48 in digs.
Robinson led Wisconsin with six blocks, followed by Hilley, Rettke, and Smrek each with four. The Badgers outblocked UM 10-6.
Straight from the Court
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield
"It was a battle out there. I thought we were really good at the end of sets. I thought we made some great plays. I thought it was a balanced effort and the three up here (Hilley, Rettke and Robinson) I thought were really big, but they weren't the only three that were really big. I thought we all played our part and we're excited that we're still playing. I'm excited that we get to keep coaching these guys.
"You're never sitting there against a player like that (Stephanie Samedy) and thinking 'oh we've got her right where we want her.' The power that she brings is filthy and the creativity in shots to pull the ball anywhere on the court. I think serving maybe had a little bit to do with it, in the back court I thought we were really good at being balanced and pursuing. A key when you're playing that team is when they're going off speed, you've gotta not only get to the ball but you've got to control it and counter attack is really important. Your defenders can't just be locked in, feet in cement without moving. When they bomb away, they really put a lot of pace on us so you're wanting to be dug in but there are so many balls that they'll move around the court and you've gotta go and get those. I thought we did a really good job of that tonight.
"Syd's (Hilley) got a lot of confidence in her hitters and that confidence is earned every day in the practice gym. Believe me, if she didn't have confidence in somebody, the kid's a winner, she's not going to give somebody the ball. They've worked on that and it's something that we pride ourselves in. We've got a player like Dana (Rettke) who is just as good as what she is. But we're a tougher team when some other people are also getting some balls as well. I think it raises the whole tide. I think it's an offense that is tough to defend against."
Middle Blocker Dana Rettke
"When Kelly told me I was back to serve, I said, 'alright, you've been working on this for like two months.' I knew exactly what I had to do and technique was great and it was nice and flean. That's what I like. Flean is flat and clean, so there's no rotation on the ball and its really tight to the net."
Setter Sydney Hilley
"I think a lot of the sets could have gone either way, I mean we were in the red zone with them in every set. We just did a really good job in closing out in the high-pressure situations and just executing when the game was on the line.
"I don't think you could ask for a better match to go out on, on your career in the Field House. The energy was just electric. They added so much to the environment. I thought the game was just super fun. and one of the funnest matches I've ever played."
Middle Blocker Devyn Robinson
"I just went out there with a mindset of 'I'm going to go do this for my seniors.' Its their last game in here. I'm going to make sure we get this win for them and get them to the final four in their last year. I just played with my heart, for them."
Up Next:
The Badgers travel to Columbus, Ohio, where they take on top-seeded and undefeated Louisville in the NCAA National Semifinals on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena. No. 3 Pittsburgh faces the winner of No. 2 Texas and No. 10 Nebraska in the other national semifinal. Times will be announced on Saturday.
