Badger volleyball battles to the bitter end in a five-set thriller at the national semifinals
Wisconsin fans took over downtown Kansas City and saw their team nearly pull off an upset of No. 1 seed Kentucky.
Photos by Taylor Wolfram
Words by Preston Schmitt
The Badger volleyball team’s upset bid for a national championship came up just short Thursday, Dec. 18, after falling to No. 1 seed Kentucky in five unforgettable sets in the semifinals. UW got off to a dominating start, winning the first set 25-12 under the heavy hitting of star seniors Carter Booth and Mimi Colyer. Booth famously said that she refuses to lose after taking down another No. 1 seed in Texas in the regional finals. She made Badger fans believe in those words all over again on Thursday, delivering a career-high 21 kills in the match. After the teams alternated wins over the first four sets, it took Kentucky three match points in the fifth set (15-13) to finally put away the never-back-down Badgers.
And Badger fans — who showed up to Kansas City in big numbers — refused to be anything but proud of the players and their remarkable effort.
Badger fans love Kansas City when the UW volleyball team is in town. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonRoll out the Badger red carpet: Players are greeted by fans and the UW Spirit Squad as they arrive at the T-Mobile Center for the semifinal match against Kentucky. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonSophomore libero Maile Chan and her teammates high-five fans outside the arena. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonThe UW Marching Band and sophomore outside hitter Grace Egan fire up Badger fans before the match. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonHigh-fashion five: A volleyball semifinal is a black-tie affair for Bucky Badger. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonRed vs. blue: The semifinal stage is set for the Badgers and Wildcats. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonEarly domination: Carter Booth (No. 52) and Mimi Colyer (No. 15) celebrate a point in the first set. The star seniors each had seven kills in the set, as Wisconsin doubled up Kentucky 25-12. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonLet’s go! Fans pump their fists and clap their hands for Badger volleyball. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonPoint, Wisconsin! Fans are awed by the action. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonOutside hitter Grace Egan (No. 32) extends for a save, with Kentucky star Eva Hudson (No. 7) looming behind her. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonBadger players celebrate during the back-and-forth contest. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonColyer soars above the net for a powerful spike. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonCharlie Fuerbringer (No. 24) brings the fury and passion during the unforgettable five-set match. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonA standing ovation: Badger fans transformed the T-Mobile Center into the Field House on Thursday night. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonA dramatic view from a dramatic night that lasted to a third match point in the fifth set. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonA clash of the titans at the net: Hudson vs. Booth. Booth plays like someone who refuses to lose. And she proved it again, surpassing a career high in kills in the biggest match of her career.Even in defeat, an embrace: There was plenty to be proud of in the Badgers’ hard-fought performance on a national stage. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
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