OMAHA, Neb. - An unprecedented but promising season season for the Wisconsin volleyball team came to an end in the NCAA National Semifinals on Thursday night. The top-seeded Badgers (16-1) were swept by No. 4 Texas, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23 at the CHI Health Center Arena.

Wisconsin couldn't stop the high-powered Longhorn offense that hit an opponent season-high .301 and put away 15 more kills than the Badgers. Texas (27-1) had four players in double figures to put away 55 kills as a team while holding Wisconsin to just 40 kills and a .220 hitting percentage (40 kills – 13 errors – 123 attempts). 

Freshman Devyn Robinson led the Badgers with 14 kills but was the only UW player to hit double figures. The right-side hitter hit .571 (14-2-21) and led the team with four blocks. Three other Badgers put away six kills apiece with Molly Haggerty, Grace Loberg and Dana Rettke all contributing to UW's offense. Sydney Hilley put up 34 assists at setter and shared match-high honors with 14 digs for her third double-double of the season. 

Wisconsin scored on three service aces – one apiece from Lauren Barnes, Haggerty, and Hilley – while the Longhorns scored two aces.

The Badgers edged Texas 6-5 in blocks and 59-58 in digs. Haggerty shared match-high honors with Hilley, recording 14 digs while Barnes had 13 saves, including seven digs in the third set alone.

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield

"Truthfully I couldn't be more proud of our team and our fighting spirit. I thought it was an epic match. l thought that both teams were doing a lot of things that were a really high level. We showed our heart there to come back in the third (set) and I'm certainly proud of this team. It's been a long year and a half. 

"It's always hard in the locker room afterwards. You have a dream and a goal that you put everything into and to fall a little short it really doesn't matter. There's nothing I can say to take the pain away. It was pretty short and brief and I thank them. I really really enjoyed coaching this group. They gave me everything they had and that's all that you ask for."

Senior Sydney Hilley
"Going into the timeout when we were down by a lot, we talked about every server go back and win one point for the team. Go on one-point runs with your serves and I thought we did a great job of just chipping away and staying in the moment, not being fearful of anything, trying to be where our feet are and I think that's what got us back in our game. We were really close and we just didn't finish it off tonight.

"I'm trying not to hang my head too much. I thought what we did this season was pretty incredible. A lot of challenges, facing a lot of adversity. I thought this group of girls put everything into this year and that's what makes it really hard when you're all in and you're putting your heart and soul into it and making a lot of sacrifices and then you just come up a little bit short. There's no group I'd rather be going through a year like this with and I'm really proud of the way we handled everything and I love everyone on the Wisconsin volleyball program. I can't explain that enough."

Notes to Know

- The Badgers advanced to their fourth NCAA national semifinal, falling to 3-1 all time in this round of the tournament.
- Wisconsin set an all-time season hitting percentage record of .318, breaking the all-time mark of .299 set in 2017.
- A record six Badgers earned All-America honors in 2020-21 and a record seven players were named to All-Big Ten teams.
- Wisconsin won its seventh overall Big Ten championship this season and third under head coach Kelly Sheffield.
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