Kentucky outlasts Wisconsin 3-2 in five-set thriller
😼 CATS CLINCH IT IN 5, EARN SPOT IN FINAL
No. 1 Kentucky outlasted No. 3 Wisconsin 3-2 in the five-set thriller to earn a trip the the NCAA national championship. The Wildcats clinch their first national final appearance since winning the title in the Spring of 2021 and second in program history.
In front of a sold-out T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO., Big Blue rallied in a dramatic fashion after a devastating 25-12 loss in Set 1. Kentucky was able to punch back in Set 2, earning the 25-22 victory before dropping the next set 25-21 to the Badgers.
With their backs against the wall, the Cats fought off a rallying Wisconsin team for the 26-24 Set 4 victory to push the match to five.
With momentum on their side, Kentucky took back what it lost in the first and fired on all cylinders in the fifth. The Cats raced out to a 6-1 lead early in the fifth before clinching the 15-13 win, hitting a match-best .409.
Outside Eva Hudson powered 29 kills on .455 hitting with seven digs, two blocks and a service ace to power the Kentucky winm while Brooklyn DeLeye tallied 15. The Big Blue defense made the difference, registering eight big-time blocks against a career-night by Wisconsin's Mimi Colyer.
With the Wildcat win, Kentucky clinches a spot in the national championship to face No. 3 Texas A&M for the first ever all-SEC final in NCAA women’s volleyball history.
KENTUCKY TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER A FIVE-SET THRILLER 😱 x 🎥 ESPN /
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball)
Final stats here.
🔥 Big Blue off to a HOT start
A dig by Brooklyn DeLeye set Eva Hudson up for the kill in the Badger gap to extend Kentucky's lead 4-1 early in Set 5.
Can the Cats keep the momentum on their side?
Keep up with live stats here.
🙀 KENTUCKY SENDS IT TO 5
The Wildcats outlasted Wisconsin 26-24 in Set 4 to send the match to 5.
Just when we thought things couldn't get any crazier, the fourth set happened. The Cats survived the 26-24 win after seven ties and four lead changes that were determined by challenges and intense rallies.
Eva Hudson is up to 23 kills on the day with a .422 clip to lead Big Blue.
Don't go anywhere, it's a winner-takes-all set next.
Keep up with live stats here.
🔥 Colyer Chaos
Wisconsin's star outside Mimi Colyer has tallied 29 kills on .421 hitting (and is STILL going).
Keep up with live stats here.
Eva Hudson kill ➡️ Wisconsin timeout
A tip by outside Eva Hudson sends the Cats to a 20-17 lead in the fourth set and forces a Badger timeout.
Can the Cats hang on?
Keep up with live stats here.
💪 Cats take the lead
After a successful Head Coach Craig Skinner challenge and two kills by Eva Hudson, the Cats find a 15-12 lead for the first time since being up 4-3 early in the set.
Can the Cats hang on and stay alive to push the match to 5?
Keep up with live stats here.
😱 THAT DEFENSE
In case you missed it, here's just a glimpse of the gritty defense action taking place here today in the T-Mobile Center.
Take a look back at this insane rally back in Set 3.
THAT KENTUCKY FIGHT 😤 x 🎥 ESPN /
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball)
😤 Badgers are back in Set 3
Wisconsin held off the Cats in Set 3 to secure the 25-21 victory.
A challenge by Head Coach Kelly Sheffield put the Badgers up 23-21 and pushed all the momentum over to Wisconsin late in the third.
The victory was powered by an gritty defensive performance and a dominant Badger offense that registered a .386 clip while Mimi Colyer leads all players with 22 kills on .395 hitting.
With Wisconsin up 2-1, the Cats need a win in the fourth to survive.
Keep up with live stats here.
🙌 Asia goes off-hands
Asia Thigpen goes off-hands on an outside dagger to put the Cats within one.
The score stands 21-20 coming out of a Badger timeout.
Keep up with live stats here.
Andrew Attack ‼️
An Alicia Andrew kills sends the Badgers to a 12-7 lead and extends Wisconsin's 3-0. The Wildcats are forced to take a timeout to slow the Badger momentum in a critical third set.
Keep up with live stats here.
🥊 Kentucky punches back for Set 2
In a back-and-forth battle of a second set, the Wildcats took a 25-22 victory over Wisconsin to even things at 1-1.
The Badgers held a 20-18 lead before the Cats finished big. Switching gears, Big Blue went on a 7-2 run to clinch the set after a dime by Eva Hudson on the outside brought the Cats to 25.
Hudson has nine kills on the day with a .389 clip and two blocks that powered the Wildcat win.
🗣️ HYPE US UP
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball)
📺 ESPN x
Keep up with live stats here.
😼 Cats take the lead
The Wildcats have gained some steam late in Set 2, and not a moment too soon.
In an absolute battle of a second set that has featured eight ties, the Wildcats take the lead at 21-20 after a block by Eva Hudson and Cassie O'Brien to shut down a Grace Egan attack.
Can the Cats stay hot?
Keep up with live stats here.
🥞 An [UN]successful pancake
After a thrilling back and forth rally, the Wildcats seemingly won the point after a pancake save to keep the ball alive and a block up front by Lizzie Carr.
However after the play concluded, Wisconsin Head Coach Kelly Sheffield challenged whether or not the dig was actually successful. The initial ruling was overturned and the Badgers got the point back to go up 15-14.
Keep up with live stats here.
Evened at 1️⃣0️⃣
A Wisconsin service error by Kristen Simon knots the Badgers and Wildcats 10-all in Set 2.
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😤 Badgers dominate Set 1
Wisconsin commanded Set 1 to earn the 25-12 victory over Kentucky.
The Badgers held control throughout the entire match, getting out to a 10-3 lead early and hanging on. Charlie Fuerbringer powered her offense to a .682 clip while Carter Booth stays perfect headed into Set 2 with seven kills on seven swings.
The Wildcats were held to .056 hitting in the first due to errors and an overpowering Badger presence up front.
BADGERS BRING THE HEAT IN SET ONE 🔥 x 🎥 ESPN /
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball)
Keep up with live stats here.