Badgers volleyball sweeps Eastern Illinois

(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – The No. 3 Wisconsin volleyball team dominated in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, sweeping Eastern Illinois (25-11, 25-6, 25-19) behind another strong performance on the offensive end. 

The Badgers (25-4) advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament with the help of a .435 (47 – 10 – 85) hitting percentage—jumping out of the gates in set one. 

Outside hitter Mimi Colyer continued to lead the way for UW, tallying six kills on eight attempts in set one. The Badgers won 13-of-14 rallies early on to take a 17-3 lead, forcing a Panthers’ (24-8) timeout. 

From there, UW never looked back in the first frame, as right side Grace Egan racked up a kill to put away Eastern Illinois with a 25-11 final score. 

The Badgers put together their best showing of the season in the second set, winning 25-6. The six points allowed were the least by a Wisconsin unit in the rallying scoring era in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to 2007. UW earned four service aces in the set—including a pair from setter Charlie Fuerbringer. 

Wisconsin enjoyed another large run in the second frame, winning seven-straight rallies to go up 19-5. Outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres provided a quality spark off of the bench in set two, recording back-to-back kills in the latter half of the frame. The sophomore earned four kills on four attempts, a season-best. 

Eastern Illinois provided a response in the third set, but the Badgers were able to answer quickly to earn the sweep. Middle blocker Tosia Serafinowska concluded the match with her first kill of her postseason career, punching the Badgers’ ticket to a battle with North Carolina tomorrow evening at the UW Field House. 

Colyer tallied double-digit kills for the 16th consecutive match, finishing with 10 on a .562 swinging percentage. Vajagic put together a solid showing in her postseason debut, also accumulating 10 kills to complement her five digs. 

Defensively, libero Kristen Simon was a staple in the back row, as the freshman notched 15 digs—tying her highest total since the Badgers’ match against Indiana on Nov. 9. 

The middle blockers for UW continued to be efficient, as seniors Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew combined for 12 kills and zero hitting errors. 

Fuerbringer did it all for the Badgers to round out the standouts, paced by 35 assists. The sophomore added eight digs, four blocks and a pair of service aces, too.