Wisconsin went into Texas and punched its ticket to the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball Final Four on Sunday night.
The Badgers avenged an earlier loss to the Longhorns, who swept them on Aug. 31, to advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.
Mimi Colyer led the Badgers with 23 kills and five digs. Una Vajagic added 15 kills and Carter Booth 11. The Badgers will play Kentucky (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) in the national semifinals on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
‘I just love this team; we fought so hard for each other,’ Colyer said. ‘It’s so much fun to come into an environment like this and pull it off.’
USA TODAY Sports had live coverage of the match. Here’s everything you need to know to know about the action.
SCORE: Wisconsin 3, Texas 1
Set 4 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 19
The Badgers advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.
Texas, a one seed, was ranked No. 3 in the nation and sees its season end.
Set 4: Wisconsin first to 15
Can the Badgers close this out and punch their ticket to the Final Four? They have been to Final Four six times and won their lone national title in 2021.
Wisconsin is hitting .318 in the fourth set.
Set 3 final: Texas 25, Wisconsin 19
Cari Spears now leads Texas with nine kills. The Longhorns are using a balanced attack and hit .400 in the third set to get back in the match.
Set 3: Texas first to 15
Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears have eight kills each as the Longhorns are fighting back. Texas is hitting .429 in the third set.
Set 2 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 21
The Badgers hitting percentage is .315 compared to .246 by the Longhorns. Mimi Colyer got her 10th kill to seal the set. Charlie Fuerbringer has 32 assists in leading the Wisconsin offense.
Set 2: Wisconsin first 15
Wisconsin is enjoying a balanced offensive attack. Mimi Colyer has nine kills, Carter Booth seven and Grace Egan and Una Vajagic six apiece.
Set 1 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 22
The Badgers went on a 7-0 run before the Longhorns fought back with a 5-0 run on their own. It wasn’t enough as Wisconsin prevailed led by six kills from Mimi Colyer.
Matthew McConaughey cheering for the Longhorn women
We are underway in Austin
The Badgers and Longhorns are set to faceoff for a Final Four bid.
What time is Wisconsin vs. Texas volleyball?
The Texas Longhorns play host to the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball Elite Eight on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) at the Gregory Gym in Austin, Texas.
Wisconsin vs. Texas volleyball: TV, streaming
Date: Sunday, Dec. 14
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT)
Location: Gregory Gym (Austin, Texas)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited
Watch NCAA volleyball tournament on Fubo