MADISON – In a high-stakes showdown at the UW Field House, Wisconsin volleyball delivered an exhilarating performance in front of a packed crowd of 7,229 fans. The match, held on September 2, featured a rollercoaster of emotions as No. 5 Wisconsin faced off against No. 17 Florida, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory in five sets with scores of 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 24-26, and 15-13. This win marked Wisconsin's second ranked victory of the season, improving their overall record to 2-3.
Middle blocker Lynney Tarnow expressed the team's gratitude for the crowd's support, stating, "The energy, feeling the crowd having our back and the support through a five-setter was such a cool feeling. But then for our team, knowing what we have to work on, taking this week’s practice and using the things that we had been working on finally was really rewarding." The match was characterized by intense rallies, with 16 ties and seven lead changes, showcasing the competitive spirit of both teams.
One of the standout moments came in the fifth set, where Wisconsin initially surged to a 6-1 lead. However, Florida responded with a strong push, tying the game at 13-13. Following a timeout, Wisconsin regrouped and clinched the match with a decisive kill from Audrey Flanagan and a crucial attack error by Florida. Head coach Kelly Sheffield noted the team's composure during the tense moments, saying, "No panic kind of happened from anybody or the team or the staff. It was just, ‘Let’s just keep working this and working it.’ And rewarded with a great win."
Wisconsin's resilience was evident throughout the match, particularly in the fourth set where they overcame a 19-12 deficit to briefly take a 23-22 lead before Florida edged out a 26-24 set win. Grace Egan played a pivotal role in the Badgers' comeback, contributing four kills early in the fourth set and finishing the match with 17 kills and a .314 hitting percentage. Sheffield highlighted Egan's remarkable turnaround, stating, "She was hitting just barely over zero after the second set and ended the match over .300, which kind of tells you that she kind of kicked it into another gear after we had a few encouraging words in between sets two and three."
Another key player was freshman Lynney Tarnow, who delivered a career-high performance with 16 kills and a .429 hitting percentage, along with five blocks. Her contributions were especially crucial as the team played without third-team All-American Jaela Auguste for the third consecutive match. Tarnow reflected on her growth, saying, "I feel like a totally different player all around. I feel like I see the improvement from those six months. … The success that I’m having is because of the things I was taught here. So I’m really, really happy about it."
Wisconsin's depth was on full display, with contributions from multiple players. Twelve Badgers participated in at least two sets, and seven players recorded at least three kills. Freshman Audrey Flanagan led the team with 18 kills, marking her third match this season with 13 or more kills. Sheffield praised her performance, stating, "Audrey Flanagan came up with some big-time swings, but all the way through was just passing nails against a really elite serving team." The team's ability to win by committee was evident, with players like Kymora Scott stepping up in her first career start, contributing seven kills and three blocks.
This thrilling victory not only showcases Wisconsin's talent and resilience but also sets the stage for their upcoming matches as they continue to build momentum in the season. The Badgers look to build on this success as they prepare for future challenges, demonstrating that they are a formidable force in collegiate volleyball.
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