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Post by ted_heise on Dec 19, 2021 11:26:25 GMT -5
Stivrins has the most expressive face in VB history. I'm going to miss her so much, words just cannot. |
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Post by ted_heise on Dec 19, 2021 11:27:10 GMT -5
Saw her at the banquet and I swear you’d think it was a party in her honor🤣 She is an amazing young woman, so classy. Love the way she contributed to this team. |
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Post by ted_heise on Dec 19, 2021 11:28:20 GMT -5
a story book ending to seasons of frustration for Wisconsin, and this group of players deserve all the credit! Sheffield matched Cook blow for blow and came out on top. on the Nebraska side, i find it thoroughly incredible that this team was able to go as far as it did in spite of that liability of an offense (not just in this game). it's a remarkable overachievement. the program has such solid infrastructure (the supportive administration, a loyal, enthusiastic and sizable fan base and arguably the best coaches in the country) and superb players (current and incoming) that future successes seem guaranteed. i'm hitching my wagon to the big red train! How is anyone going to score on Nebraska next year with Rodriguez/Knuckles/Akana? Wisconsin hit .128 in a bad match up against Purdue at home, but their .183 tonight was the second worst of the year. Stivrins was great, but Caffey could return, and the freshman pins will only get better, unfortunately for me. I have to think the defense will take a hit if Nicklin does not use her COVID year. The plays she makes to keep balls up are unbelievable, and that will surely be missed. |
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Post by ted_heise on Dec 19, 2021 11:28:47 GMT -5
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Post by robtearle on Dec 19, 2021 11:33:02 GMT -5
in the off-season, someone on VT needs to watch the match, convert it to side out scoring, and tell the score and who one and how long it would have taken. If by "someone" you mean you, I'm all for it  You don't need to watch the video, you can do it rather quickly and easily from the 'play by play' of the box score. And it is necessarily the case that the team winning the set under rally scoring scored (at least as many, but almost always) more 'points on serve' - aka sideout scoring points - than the losing team. (Unless I screwed it up) 1st set - UW 8, Neb 12 2nd set - UW 11, Neb 9 3rd set - UW 8, Neb 7 4th set - UW 7, Neb 8 5th set - UW 7, Neb 5 (all UW points scored with Jade Demps at the line, btw) Tied at 41 all |
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Post by ted_heise on Dec 19, 2021 11:33:25 GMT -5
Unbelievable. Whatever happens from this point on, both teams have played like Champions and everyone should love this match. Omg Im so proud of my Huskers. What an amazing post season run from them. The heart they showed in the fifth after being down 8-1. Wow. This team will always be so special in my heart. Congrats to Wisconsin and their storied senior class
Too many great posts to quote, but these are representative of the typical Husker style. Thanks.
Major congratulations to the Badgers! They played with grit and determination, and deserved the win. As I said earlier, Barnes played lights out, major props to her. The Wisconsin block and Demps out of the back row were real difference makers. And how appropriate for match point to come on a Rettke swing. Savor the victory and the great accomplishment, all well-earned.
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Post by ilikecorn on Dec 19, 2021 11:43:50 GMT -5
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Post by Floyd R. Turbo on Dec 19, 2021 11:45:22 GMT -5
Congrats to Cheese on the title. An epic match and you came through like a championship team would.
Hats off to the Women of Corn. Few expected you'd make it this far and you came within three points of a natty. Holds your heads high...we're all terribly proud of you!
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Post by liberovb10 on Dec 19, 2021 11:52:04 GMT -5
Eh, at this point can we just say Hilley >>>>>>>>>> Carlini? no, not a chance If we compare their collegiate careers, I would take Hilley on my team any day. |
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Post by badgerbreath on Dec 19, 2021 11:52:40 GMT -5
Just got back from the match, what an amazing way to end the season and what a moment for Badger fans. Let me tell you--it has been a JOURNEY being a Badger fan my entire life leading up to this moment. One of my earliest volleyball memories was going to the Field House in 1997 and watching the Badgers upset #1 Penn State on Halloween night with over 7000 fans in the house. Two months later my first heart break was watching them go up 2-0 against Florida in the RF and losing in 5 at home. Next year they barely lose to Nebraska in the RF and miss an opportunity to play for a title in Madison. 2 years later they break through, only to go up 2-1 in the title game and drop it in 5 to their old coach. Fast forward through several very good Pete Waite years, several less good years, and then we have a new coach and somehow land (and keep) the #1 recruit in the country, Lauren Carlini. Sheff and Carlini create magic and get UW back to the semifinals, then pull off an all time great upset against Texas to reach the title match. The next match, they come up just short in a painful 4 game loss to Penn State for the title. The next year I really thought we had the pieces to win it all, only for Carlini to get injured in the RF and we drop to Penn State again in 4. The next year we lose earlier than hoped in 5 to a very good Florida team, and experience 1997 deja vu again in 2016 after losing to Stanford in the regional finals at home after going up 2-0. We say goodbye to Carlini and Co. and hello to a loaded 2017 class. By their sophomore year, we are back in the Final Four mix, but come up just short in the regional finals after a hard fought battle against a more experienced Illinois team. In 2019 we reach the title but stink it up in the finals, and lose to a dominant Stanford team. 2020 was supposed to be our year, but then obviously covid happened, and threw the season all out of whack. We went undefeated in our shortened schedule but looked out of sorts toward the end of the year and ultimately got swept by Texas in the semis. For 2021, instead of it feeling like "this is our year", it has felt like "this is our last chance." We lose Rettke/Hilley/Barnes/Loberg next year and while we're projected to be good in 2022, I don't think we'll be in the upper tier title mix. This year had its ups and downs but we flourished in the tournament and cruised back to the semis, only to be pushed to the absolute brink against both Louisville and Nebraska and we FINALLY win a title. Nothing about getting to this moment was easy for this program but man is the payoff amazing. 30+ years in the making and it has never been a better day to be a Badger fan. Thank you for to Steve Lowe for getting the program on the map in the early 90s and getting us to the regionals. Thank you to John Cook for taking us to the next level and making us a true final four threat. Thank you to Pete Waite for taking us another level and getting us to a title match. And THANK YOU Kelly Sheffield for elevating us to another level and finally bringing a title home to Madison. This is almost exactly my history with badger vball, though I go two years further back to Abbinante's time. That 97 Halloween match was just insanely loud. Still processing this moment. It's almost too much. |
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Post by zero-rotation outside hitter on Dec 19, 2021 12:03:35 GMT -5
Forgive me if this has already been mentioned. But did anyone else think Kayla Caffey's response in the press conference after the match was terrible? I fully understand that emotions and disappointments are high, but she completely disregarded the question about hitting against the WI block by only saying "it was good." Hames and Stivrins seemed to be able to muster the ability to respond (as amateurs) in a somewhat professional way. I found it disappointing and not the kind of behavior I would expect "Husker Nation" to esteem.
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Post by odinaka on Dec 19, 2021 12:18:03 GMT -5
Saw her at the banquet and I swear you’d think it was a party in her honor🤣 She is an amazing young woman, so classy. Love the way she contributed to this team. Totally agree. You would never have guessed she’s not been playing. Genuine joy in the accomplishment of her team |
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Post by BadgerAce42 on Dec 19, 2021 12:34:08 GMT -5
My favorite thing about Nebraska, and there's a lot to choose from, is seeing Knuckles not miss a beat, switching positions and being less in the limelight this year - although true, she said she prefers DS - but to see her be such a great teammate to everyone, and in particular Rodriguez, incredible; and she's just so cool and collected, like you can pretty much always count on her. Wisconsin needs a libero next season, Kenzie. Too soon? |
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Post by northwoods on Dec 19, 2021 12:36:54 GMT -5
Eh, at this point can we just say Hilley >>>>>>>>>> Carlini? no, not a chance Oh, Absolutely and it’s not even close! The leadership qualities and ability to make everyone around her shine more brightly than herself set her on the top shelf! |
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Post by BadgerAce42 on Dec 19, 2021 12:42:06 GMT -5
How is anyone going to score on Nebraska next year with Rodriguez/Knuckles/Akana? Wisconsin hit .128 in a bad match up against Purdue at home, but their .183 tonight was the second worst of the year. Stivrins was great, but Caffey could return, and the freshman pins will only get better, unfortunately for me. I have to think the defense will take a hit if Nicklin does not use her COVID year. The plays she makes to keep balls up are unbelievable, and that will surely be missed. Best defensive setter, full stop. I’ve been so impressed with her, especially during the tourney. Use that COVID year, gurl! |
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