Wisconsin volleyball came off a frustrating sweep at the hands of the Texas Longhorns and was able to channel that frustration into their own sweep of UC Davis. Yet, it didn't start that way. Kelly Sheffield had to push the right buttons, according to outside hitter Grace Egan, "They are outplaying you." He told them, and Egan agreed, "They were."
UC Davis started hot with an aggressive and fast attack, catching Wisconsin off guard, but during the first set, the Badgers were able to adjust to the style of play that the Aggies were throwing at them. The Badgers were able to battle through the speed of the attack and pull off the first set victory.
Wisconsin needed a rally in the second set to pull off the important win over UC Davis
Related: Wisconsin reacts after Texas loss: 'A match that's going to do us a lot of good'
It was that second set where things began to unravel for Wisconsin. UC Davis came in with hustle and energy, and Wisconsin came in flat. The Aggies got to a point where they went on an 8-0 run and were holding a 16-8 lead. Sheffield used his second timeout and pulled the team to him and told them they were being outworked. That one team was playing harder than the other, and it wasn't the Badgers with the effort.
Sheffield calls his team a team full of fierce competitors, and that's all it took. Madison Quest was able to get some juice with her serves, which rallied the team, and Wisconsin climbed their way back into the set, eventually taking it from out of the Aggies' hands and giving them the 2-0 set lead.
In the final set, the Badgers carried that momentum and ran the floor. They walked away with a sweep, but it was that one statement from Sheffield that may have helped turn the whole thing around.
The Badgers play again today (for the second consecutive day) against Chicago State at 7 p.m. in the UW Field House. The game is only on BIG+, which is a streaming-only service.