BYU Falls To No. 1 Wisconsin In NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament

PROVO, Utah – The unprecedented spring season for the 2020-21 BYU women’s volleyball has come to an end. BYU lost on Saturday in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament regional semifinals to No. 1 Wisconsin in three sets (16-25, 17-25, 12-25).

pic.twitter.com/lmnSpdV0Da

— BYU Women’s Volleyball (@BYUwvolleyball) April 18, 2021

BYU had a .152 hit percentage to Wisconsin’s .333 in the match. The Badgers had 47 kills to BYU’s 32.

BYU’s season comes to a close, putting a bow on their eighth season in the last nine years in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Sweet 16.

Set 1: (1) Wisconsin 25, (16) BYU 20

BYU challenged a Wisconsin point that would have put the Cougars down 13-8. After an official review, Taylen Ballard-Nixon was awarded the kill, keeping BYU in the set against the undefeated Badgers at 12-9. Wisconsin then jumped back out to an 18-14 lead with a 3-0 run after a few miscues from BYU during Badger serves. BYU was forced to call its second timeout.

#BYU falls in set 1 of the NCAA Regional Semifinals.@BadgerVB 25, @BYUwvolleyball 20 #GoCougs #NCAAVB

📸: @BYUPhoto pic.twitter.com/tzpLMxev54

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 18, 2021

Wisconsin had three service aces to BYU’s one. The Badgers also had a 31.4% hit percentage to BYU’s 16.1%. Badgers showed early why they are undefeated and the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, with their efficient play. BYU never held a lead in set one.

This was the first set loss for BYU since March 17 against San Diego. BYU went on to win that match 3-1.

Set 2: Wisconsin 25, BYU 17

Wisconsin All-American Dana Rettke hitting .000 and the Badgers still cruised through BYU in set two. BYU didn’t roll over, they hung around, but there was too much firepower from the Badgers who tacked on another two service aces.

Can #BYU make a comeback?

Set 2: @BadgerVB 25, @BYUwvolleyball 17#NCAAVB #BYUWVB #GoCougs

📸: @BYUPhoto pic.twitter.com/EcAw0WCqL1

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 18, 2021

Set 3: Wisconsin 25, BYU 12

BYU’s Kate Grimmer was a bright spot in a game where the Cougars were overmatched by the depth of Wisconsin. Grimmer had nine kills in the match. The Cougars had six errors as the Badgers became the first team to advance to the regional final.

BYU finished the 2020-21 season with a 17-2 record overall. The Cougars will be back in action this fall when the sport returns back to its typical place on the college sports calendar. Wisconsin advances and will face the winner of Sunday’s Ohio State/Florida match.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.