Badgers’ Season Concludes in Thrilling Five-Set Showdown

Bassyonni

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Badgers’ Season Concludes in Thrilling Five-Set Showdown

The No. 3 Wisconsin volleyball team concluded its season in a gripping five-set match against No. 1 Kentucky at the NCAA National Semifinals on December 15, 2023. The contest, held at the T-Mobile Center, ended with scores of 25-12, 22-25, 25-21, 24-26, and 13-15, marking a dramatic finish to the Badgers’ season.

Key Players Stand Out

Senior Mimi Colyer, a finalist for the AVCA National Player of the Year, led Wisconsin with a remarkable 32 kills, achieving a hitting percentage of .348. She also recorded her 10th double-double of the season by contributing 12 digs.

Carter Booth, another standout and All-American, set a personal milestone with 21 kills, boasting an impressive hitting percentage of .633. Booth’s performance marked the most kills in her collegiate career.

In addition to Colyer and Booth, notable performances came from Charlie Fuerbringer and Una Vajagic, both recording double-doubles. Fuerbringer notched a career-high 63 assists alongside 14 digs, while Vajagic contributed 10 kills and 12 digs.

Match Overview

Set 1: Wisconsin quickly established dominance, winning 25-12 behind strong performances from All-Americans Colyer and Booth.
Set 2: The Badgers held a late lead of 20-18, but Kentucky surged back to win the set 25-22.
Set 3: Wisconsin maintained its lead, closing the set at 25-21 and taking a 2-1 advantage overall.
Set 4: Intense competition led to extra points, but Kentucky claimed the set 26-24, tying the match at 2-2.
Set 5: Despite a strong push, Wisconsin fell short, with Kentucky winning the final frame 15-13.

Season Summary and Reflections

With the loss, Wisconsin concluded the season with an overall record of 28-5. This appearance marked the team’s seventh NCAA National Semifinal. Coach Kelly Sheffield reflected on the season, stating it was one of the most successful he had been a part of.

Season Highlights

Wisconsin holds a 76-28 record in NCAA Tournament history.
The Badgers are now 4-4 in NCAA National Championship matches.
Mimi Colyer recorded double-digit kills for the 20th consecutive match.
Libero Kristen Simon finished her freshman season with 376 digs, surpassing former player Lauren Carlini for fourth-most digs in a freshman season.
Grace Egan achieved a season-high with 15 digs in the semifinal match.

The Badgers’ season may have closed, but their performance demonstrated resilience and determination on the national stage.