The No. 3 Wisconsin volleyball team is gearing up to continue their impressive NCAA Tournament journey as they prepare to face No. 2 Stanford in Austin, Texas, on Friday, December 12. The highly anticipated match will take place at Gregory Gymnasium and will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the regional semifinal game between No. 4 Indiana and No. 1 Texas, which is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. CT. Fans can catch both matches on ESPN.
With a season record of 26-4, the Badgers have advanced to the NCAA Regionals thanks to outstanding performances in their last two matches where they triumphed over Eastern Illinois and North Carolina. This achievement marks the 13th consecutive year that Wisconsin has reached this stage of the tournament.
Wisconsin’s offense has been notable, boasting the second-highest hitting percentage in the nation at .322, which is on track to set a new school record if maintained. Mimi Colyer was a standout player over the weekend, delivering an impressive 22 kills and 13 digs against North Carolina, marking her eighth double-double of the season. Recently, she received recognition as the Player of the Year in the AVCA All-North Region, alongside four fellow Badgers who made the First Team: middle blocker Carter Booth, libero Kristen Simon, outside hitter Una Vajagic, and right-side hitter Grace Egan.
Simon, one of just three freshmen honored this year, consistently performed well in the back row. During the Badgers’ postseason matches, they limited their opponents to a hitting percentage of .250 or lower, with Simon accumulating a total of 31 digs and breaking into fifth place for most digs by a freshman in program history.
As Wisconsin heads to Texas, they aim to secure their first-ever victory against Stanford, who currently holds a 6-0 lead in their all-time series, including a win in the 2019 National Championship match. The Cardinal (29-4) are coming off victories against Utah Valley and Arizona, both matches ending in four sets, and they bring a formidable postseason reputation with nine national championships and 23 Final Four appearances.
Freshman Charlie Fuerbringer has also been impactful for the Badgers, contributing a career-high during their previous match against Stanford last season and continuing to make her presence felt this postseason with solid offensive efforts.
Under the guidance of head coach Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin has demonstrated resilience in NCAA Regional Semifinal matches, sporting a record of 10-2 during his tenure. Last year, they achieved a thrilling five-set victory over Texas A&M, allowing them to progress to the NCAA Regional Final.
Looking ahead, a win against Stanford would set up the Badgers to face the winner of the Indiana vs. Texas match on Sunday, December 14, with the start time yet to be determined. This serves as an exciting opportunity for Wisconsin to further their legacy in the NCAA tournament.