Match Stats
- No. 3 Wisconsin def. Ohio State 3-2, (25-15, 22-25, 29-31, 25-22, 15-13)
- Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament
- Wisconsin advances to play the winner of Stanford/Florida State on Saturday, December 10 at 5 PM CST
In another thrilling Sweet Sixteen match, Wisconsin narrowly escapes the upset over Ohio State in five sets.
The first set started off as a run away for the Badgers as they took an early 6-1 lead. Ohio State tried to fight back into the set, but couldn’t get it done- staying down by ten points the majority of the set, before dropping the first 25-15.
The second was a reversal of the first, with Ohio State keeping a three point lead over Wisconsin before taking the set 25-22.
In the third, the score went back and forth the entire set, with 15 ties, the last coming at 29-29. A Badger service error and Tionna Williams attack error lost the third for Wisconsin 30-29. The battle continued in the fourth with Ohio State keeping a three point lead over Wisconsin. Up 19-14, the Badgers made a 6-0 run on the Buckeyes to take a 20-19 lead. Tied up at 21, Wisconsin took a lead and kept it until they took the fourth 25-22, sending the match into a deciding fifth set.
The fifth was much like the rest of the match, a battle. With the set tied up at 7-7, Wisconsin rattled off a 3-0 run on the Buckeyes, who quickly retaliated to within one, but couldn’t catch up to the Badgers. A kill from Haleigh Nelson ended the match 15-13.
“So proud of our team for fighting. It’s a match that obviously could have gone either way, but when out back was against the wall, I thought we responded with strength and unity and confidence and execution,” said Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield.
Sheffield and his wife bought up the first 1,000 tickets for students and student-athletes to attract as many fans as they could to the Field House, and it worked. In the packed Field House, the Badgers were able to prevail over Ohio State.
“We had such an incredible crowd today. I have never heard the Field House louder,” said senior setter Lauren Carlini.
Standout Wisconsin freshman Molly Haggerty didn’t disappoint, putting down 22 kills and picking up 14 digs for a double-double. Setter Lauren Carlini recorded a double-double with 62 assists and 16 digs, adding seven blocks to her tally.
Haleigh Nelson added 14 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and six blocks for the Badgers, while Tionna Williams slammed down 11 kills and eight blocks. Kelli Bates picked up 13 digs, while Amber Macdonald added 11.
Ohio State had four players in double-digit kills, three recording double-doubles. Leading was Luisa Schimer with 19 kills and 18 digs, while Taylor Sandbothe hammered down 13 kills and 10 blocks. Setter Taylor Hughes dished out 45 assists and put down 11 kills, while Madison Smeathers added 10 kills.
Audra Appold put down eight kills and picked up 17 digs for the Buckeyes. In the back row, Valeria Leon picked up 13 digs.
Wisconsin advances to play the winner of the Stanford/Florida State game on Saturday, December 10 at 5 PM CST.
WHAT. A. MATCH.#OnWisconsin || #NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/4QnxeNz3sW
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) December 9, 2016
"You'll never forget that match.
"For the rest of your life."#OnWisconsin #BringIt https://t.co/7hnOURIULd— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) December 9, 2016
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