The Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team is gearing up for a pivotal NCAA tournament regional semifinal matchup against the Stanford Cardinal, set for Friday, Dec. 12. The third-seeded Badgers, boasting a strong record of 26-4, will enter the contest riding an impressive 11-match winning streak. Additionally, they are looking to maintain a significant streak of advancing to the regional finals for the seventh consecutive year.
Historically, however, Stanford has posed a formidable challenge for Wisconsin, having defeated the Badgers in all six previous encounters, including three in NCAA tournament play. The last time Wisconsin faced Stanford in this round was in 2017, where the Cardinal emerged victorious. This adds an extra layer of urgency for the Badgers as they aim to break their losing streak against Stanford.
Both programs have rich histories and are recognized powerhouses in women’s volleyball. Wisconsin has reached the tournament’s second weekend for an impressive 13 consecutive seasons, while Stanford holds the record for the most NCAA championships with nine titles, the most recent of which was clinched against Wisconsin in 2019.
The winner of the Wisconsin-Stanford face-off will advance to the regional finals, scheduled to take place against the top-seeded Texas Longhorns, who earlier in the day swept Indiana in their semifinal match.
Fans can catch the action on ESPN or via streaming services that include ESPN, such as Fubo, which also offers a free trial. The match is expected to commence at approximately 1:30 p.m. at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Texas.
In the tournament’s earlier rounds, Wisconsin successfully swept Eastern Illinois and North Carolina with identical 3-0 scores. In contrast, Stanford triumphed over Utah Valley and Arizona, winning both matches 3-1.
For live updates and coverage of the match, the Journal Sentinel will provide real-time reports from Austin, with updates available on their live blog.
The regional semifinals have seen some upsets, with No. 3 Creighton defeating No. 2 Arizona State and No. 3 Purdue knocking off No. 2 SMU earlier in the tournament. This trend raises hope for Wisconsin as they prepare to challenge the second-seeded Cardinal.
As the tournament progresses, the anticipation builds for what promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of college volleyball’s elite programs. The eventual regional final will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14, against the winner of the Texas-Wisconsin/Stanford match, continuing the pursuit of the NCAA championship.
