The Badgers lost in heartbreaking fashion in the National Semifinal, falling to Kentucky 3-2 on Thursday night. After winning the first set 25-12, Wisconsin never found the same rhythm again, and dropped three of the last four sets.
In the final set, Wisconsin rallied from a deficit, only to lose by the slim margin of 15-13. It was a brutal way to finish after absolutely dominating in the first set.
1. Badgers got sloppy after a dominant first set
After cruising to a 25-12 first set win, the Badgers failed to maintain their momentum. Wisconsin ended up with 14 service errors, something that had plagued them for much of the season, and gave away too many free points to Kentucky down the stretch. The Badgers finished with 17 attack errors, with two crucial ones coming in the final set.
2. Colyer and Booth dominate, but don't get enough help
Mimi Colyer and Carter Booth set high marks in the match, with Colyer totaling 32 kills and Booth adding a career-high 21. Despite the offensive production from Wisconsin's two stars, it wasn't enough to top the high-powered Kentucky offense, which scored 21-26-15 over the last three sets. Kentucky is now 8-1 on the year when they lose the first set.
3. The magical run that was never supposed to be
While a National Championship would've been incredible, 2025 was really supposed to be somewhat of a rebuild year. Charlie Fuerbringer's injury, which kept her out for a month, complicated matters, and no one probably expected Wisconsin to get past Texas. So while the end result is crushing, this team still beat the odds and went further than anyone expected. There were plenty of chances to win against the Wildcats, and it'll leave a bad taste for awhile, but overall this year was a heckuva ride.