The No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team (0-3) fell in four sets against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns (1-1) in the opener of the State Farm Women's College Volleyball Showcase at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Sunday.
Reminiscent of December's Final Four match-up, which cut the Badgers’ season just short of the National title, Wisconsin looked strong in the first two sets against the back-to-back national champions.
The opening set proceeded with turbulence, marking 16 ties and four lead changes as the Badgers and Longhorns traded points and fought to secure dominance. Wisconsin displayed their prowess at the net with a block by senior Anna Smrek and fifth-year Devyn Robinson, bolstering the team to a four-point lead. But the Longhorns drove back, helmed by Madisen Skinner’s eight kills, which brought the teams tied deep into the set.
The score rested at 27 points a piece following a kill from Robinson. But the Longhorns took control of the set after a successful challenge by head coach Jerritt Elliott, cruising to a 30-28 victory to claim the first set.
Set two similarly demonstrated a perfect illustration of what to expect from a top-three match-up. Texas broke away for an early 8-4 lead, but the Badgers swiftly responded on defense by stepping in front of Skinner’s attacks at the net. The Badgers continued to break away at the Longhorn’s defense, and a strategically placed tip from outside hitter Sarah Franklin put the Badgers up 14-13.
After a challenge by the Longhorns’ coach on a kill executed by the Badgers’ middle blocker CC Crawford that was confirmed, Wisconsin’s momentum shortly ceded. But it just as quickly returned as Wisconsin took the second set 25-23 to tie the game.
Despite their early prowess, the Badgers collapsed as they entered the second half of the game. Skinner continued to trouble the Wisconsin defense, struggling to read and pursue the All-American’s hits.
The third set marked a change in the Badgers’ momentum as they struggled to keep up with Texas’ depth in transition. Although Wisconsin fought early to make it a two-point set with back-to-back kills, Texas responded by forcing a six-point that grew as the game progressed. A service ace from Jenna Wenaas closed out the set 25-15 and locked down the lead for the Longhorns.
Wisconsin collapsed in the fourth set despite efforts by Franklin, the 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year. The outside hitter saw three straight kills that pulled the Badgers to the trail of the Longhorns, 5-6, before Texas rattled off back-to-back points, rendering Wisconsin out of contention.
The Badgers failed to find ground in the fourth set, unable to fight against the Longhorns’ precise hitting. Wenaas’ kill for match point closed out the final set 25-11, marking a 3-1 loss that has left them without a win at the inception of their 2024 season.
The Badgers will head to Waco, Texas to take on Texas Christian University Friday at 4 p.m.
Molly Sheehan is the Sports Editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has covered Wisconsin Badgers sports teams, written articles including player profiles and game previews, and covered match-ups as a photojournalist. Follow her on X @mollyrsheehan and Instagram @msheehan.photography
