The Wisconsin volleyball team has endured a year unlike any other. Their season was moved from fall to spring, and they were forced to pause all team activities for three weeks because of a coronavirus outbreak among the team. In addition, several of their matches were cancelled due to other teams’ COVID concerns, leading them to play only a fraction of a normal season’s matches.
However, tonight, there was some normalcy. The Badgers won a title. All is right in Madison.
With their Thursday night victory over Michigan, the Wisconsin volleyball team landed their second straight Big Ten conference championship, and the seventh in program history.
UW swept the Wolverines in three sets, winning 25-23, 25-12, 25-11. With the win, the Badgers remained perfect on the season with a 14-0 record. Senior middle blocker Dana Rettke led all players with 17 kills and five blocks while hitting .586. Senior setter Sydney Hilley recorded a double-double with 35 assists and 10 digs. As a team, Wisconsin hit .344 on the night, while holding the Wolverines to a .046 hitting percentage.
The Badgers have played in the best conference in the country all year. Five of this week’s top ten teams in the nation come from the Big Ten. UW has dropped only three sets all season against this top notch competition. They will finish out the unprecedented regular season against Michigan on Friday night.
Looking Ahead
The senior-led Wisconsin volleyball team was ecstatic about winning the conference championship. However, they have their sights set on more titles as they close out the regular season and begin the postseason. The Badgers have been ranked number one all year and are hungry to bring a national title home to Madison. Last year, the team finished as runner ups after a disappointing showing against Stanford in the national title game.
Wisconsin will begin their final push for a title soon. They will find out what seed they’ll be and who they will play in the tournament on Sunday. The reduced field of 48 teams for this year will be announced on the selection show, set to begin at 3 P.M. on ESPNU. The entire tournament will be held at the Chi Health Center Arena in Omaha, with the first round starting April 14th.
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