Wisconsin volleyball headed to Final Four for 3rd consecutive season

MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin volleyball team is headed back to the Final Four for the third-consecutive season.

The fourth-ranked Badgers beat Minnesota 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-22) Saturday to punch their ticket to Canton, Ohio.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Wisconsin (29-3) will play top-ranked and undefeated Louisville (32-0), while No. 3 Pittsburgh (30-3) will face 10th-ranked Nebraska (25-7) on the other half of the bracket.

The Badgers have yet to play Louisville this season — or Pitt. UW has beaten Nebraska twice (3-0, 3-1).

Dana Rettke had 15 kills, while teammate Sydney Hilley put up 43 assists, along with 12 digs for Wisconsin, which has won 18 consecutive sets.

Stephanie Samedy — the back-to-back Big 10 Player of the Year — had 12 kills, while teammate Airi Miyabe led with 13 for the Gophers, who have lost to UW the last six matches.