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Post by vollectator on Dec 19, 2021 4:02:27 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!
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Post by staticb on Dec 19, 2021 4:13:00 GMT -5
Agree about Rodriguez, although it just goes to show the insane talent of some of these hitters, where a few times she was in pretty good position on a hard driven ball and just had no chance. I thought Wisconsin did a really good scouting job, their outsides were hitting those cut shots to make Lexi dive to her left (her "weakness" as far as a libero of her calibur has), probably did that better than any other team. Also some great line shots, which Akana dug up nicely. |
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Post by Badger Alum on Dec 19, 2021 4:13:35 GMT -5
Syd set pretty well. She was pretty limited by the passing and not having Dana or Devyn producing. Hm, I didn't see it that way. For sure that passing was bad, but I felt Dana and Devyn not producing was because she was putting them in awful spots and her decision making was really poor on numerous occasions. Definitely felt like it was way better in set 5 though, so it's like... literally who cares haha. If you can get it done when it's go-time, I'm still with ya. I watched a different match than you. |
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Post by Badger Alum on Dec 19, 2021 4:17:01 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. Perfect |
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Post by bucky415 on Dec 19, 2021 4:18:26 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. |
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Post by Badger Alum on Dec 19, 2021 4:28:21 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. Perfect My first match was 1990. I was still a student. I’ve probably only missed 15-20 home matches over these 31 years. So many highs and lows. I was there in person tonight with my son. Joy! |
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Post by ay2013 on Dec 19, 2021 4:31:41 GMT -5
Congrats to Wisconsin!
Nebraska sure will be a tough out for years to come
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Post by rainbowbadger on Dec 19, 2021 5:21:39 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. I feel all of this, every last little bit. I don’t go back as far as you - my “origin story” is the 2006 Halloween sweep of Penn State - but the highs and lows are there all the same. I love these people so much. The players, coaches, staff, alums - Every single one of them had a part in this. |
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Post by HOLIDAY on Dec 19, 2021 5:25:27 GMT -5
Leaving Rodriguez off this list is a crying shame |
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Post by HOLIDAY on Dec 19, 2021 5:39:05 GMT -5
Super exciting night, but man, when your outsides hit .122, .106, and .081, it is REALLY hard to win a match If we would’ve had a Michaela Foecke?, game over. |
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Post by odinaka on Dec 19, 2021 7:24:18 GMT -5
Mind blowing that Pitt took down Purdue, who beat Wisconsin twice. Have too that to my social media handles Nebraska handled Purdue twice as well. It doesn’t translate. Lol I only care about the champions. Nebraska lost just like we did. LOL back |
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Post by david38 on Dec 19, 2021 7:31:11 GMT -5
Agree about Rodriguez, although it just goes to show the insane talent of some of these hitters, where a few times she was in pretty good position on a hard driven ball and just had no chance. I thought Wisconsin did a really good scouting job, their outsides were hitting those cut shots to make Lexi dive to her left (her "weakness" as far as a libero of her calibur has), probably did that better than any other team. Also some great line shots, which Akana dug up nicely. Interesting. I didn't realize that about Rodriguez, and it did seem to happen several times. |
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Post by austintatious on Dec 19, 2021 8:00:13 GMT -5
Super exciting night, but man, when your outsides hit .122, .106, and .081, it is REALLY hard to win a match If we would’ve had a Michaela Foecke?, game over. not if Wisky had a Carlini. We can play "what if" all day. |
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Post by horns1 on Dec 19, 2021 8:10:26 GMT -5
Are 2 of the next 3 championships in Omaha and Kansas City? well, we can have it on Austin if you want. That doesn’t seem to bother Nebraska.. Yeah, cuz the Huskers have won in Austin once (I think) in the last 15 years . . . |
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Post by rjaege on Dec 19, 2021 8:21:28 GMT -5
If we would’ve had a Michaela Foecke?, game over. not if Wisky had a Carlini. We can play "what if" all day. NE only had one reliable pin, Kubik. Freshman Batenhorst and Krause need further development, although Krause did pretty well at OP. Pretty remarkable NE hung in there with such low hitting percentages. True testament to their defense. WI block was a huge part of NE low hitting percentage. How the #$%^& do you hit vs a 6'8" and 6'9" well formed double block. |
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