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WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament // Finals

By Wisconsin Volleyball

May 24^th, 2022

In the words of Beyoncé: 'who run the world?' It may just be women’s college sports.

Volleyball saw two national title games in the same year as the 2020 season was delayed due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Appearing in a final four just eight months prior, Wisconsin claimed the crown in December 2021, setting the best audience on record for the sport on ESPN networks. The Badgers had to overcome an unbeaten Louisville in the semifinals and beat Nebraska in a five-set stretch for the title.

Sports Illustrated // Madeline Coleman

12.18.21

Columbus, OH // Nationwide Arena

18,755

NCAA Volleyball Attendance Championship Record

HOW WE GOT HERE

Honoring all of those who dared to believe in the Badgers, this one's for you.

The Badgers program dates to 1974, but it took its first big step forward when coach Steve Lowe took over in 1986. The Badgers were NIT champions in 1989.

Then they went 29-7 and made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1990, getting to the Sweet 16. But in July 1991, Lowe suddenly fell ill. A nonsmoker, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in August at age 35, just as the season was starting.

"This team stands on the shoulders of the alums that have come before them. We stand on the shoulders of the coaches that have been here prior to us. We're uplifted by an incredible fan base that is so passionate and supportive. This is the ultimate team effort."

Wisconsin Volleyball Head Coach // Kelly Sheffield

THE GRIND TO GOLD

Pursuing the program’s first national championship, the Wisconsin Badgers wait to take the court for a match that would later become a five-set thriller lasting over three hours.

Rettke and middle blocker Devyn Robinson had 13 and 10 blocks.

As a team, the Badgers posted 24 blocks, the most in a national championship game ever.

Jade Demps had a magnificent game with 12 kills on .396 attack efficiency. She also tallied nine digs and an ace.

Behind the service line, the Badgers had the edge over the Cornhuskers, 7-4, in service aces. Izzy Ashburn tallied four aces, while Giorgia Civita and Julia Orzol each added one.

"In fitting fashion, the highlight of the tournament was the fantastic finale. As two of the country's top programs battled on the national stage, we were all proud to call volleyball our sport. And while defense wins championships, Wisconsin proved that two lines of defense are even better than one: 24 team blocks and 31 Lauren Barnes digs."

ESPN // Salima Rockwell

The thrilling finale was determined by the finest of margins with Wisconsin edging Nebraska by only two points (Total Points: Wisconsin 116 // Nebraska 114). There are no little things.

"The second set of the championship match was such compelling volleyball; it was like everything was hanging in the balance. Nebraska was trying to grab what would have seemed like a nearly insurmountable 2-0 lead, with Wisconsin scratching and clawing to stay out of that huge hole. Dana Rettke getting the last three points of that 31-29 Badgers set victory was a case of the national player of the year coming through in the biggest match of her career."

ESPN // Mechelle Voepel

After hitting over .700 against Louisville in the national semifinals with 20 kills, Anna Smrek hit .429 with 14 kills against Nebraska.

“She didn't flinch,” Sheffield said of Smrek. “And she wasn't the only one that didn't flinch.”

NCAA Finals Postgame Press Conference // Kelly Sheffield

"That was definitely an epic battle," said Rettke, who finished the set with a kill and two solo blocks. "Really good volleyball, so back and forth. That doesn't happen unless every single person believes we can win that set. And we pulled it out with some clean volleyball."

5x First-Team All-American // Dana Rettke

The 18,755 record crowd got their money's worth with back-to-back deuce sets in the second half of the match. Badgers took the third set 25-23. Nebraska won the fourth set 25-23.

Wisconsin bolted out to a 7-0 start in the final set thanks the to service precision by Jade Demps and veteran block moves by Dana Rettke. Four of Rettke's blocks came in the fifth set.

Nebraska re-grouped in a timeout. They chipped away at the deficit and got within three at 10-7, then 12-9.

Wisconsin was leading 14-11 in set five when the match was won after a Husker attack error. Seconds later, Nebraska used their final challenge signaling a request for an official's video review.

The call was overturned in Nebraska's favor making the score 14-12.

It was Barnes, Demps, Hilley, Loberg, Orzol and Rettke who took the floor after an extended break taken for the official's review.

"During the challenge, we were making eye contact with each other knowing that if this doesn't go our way we are still playing volleyball. We haven't done anything yet. The call didn't go our way and we took care of the pass. If we are in the huddle and think we just won, we might not take care of the pass but we did. We did a good job staying in the moment."

2x All-American // Lauren Barnes

The six-rotation freshman, Julia Orzol, carried a heavy load for the Badgers being targeted by a Nebraska server on 45 previous occasions.

The young star from Poland ended the night with an incredible passing average of 2.33 (3 pt scale). Wisconsin was able to sideout on 70% of the rallies that were initiated by an Orzol pass. She was the only player in the match over 70% sideout conversion.

Julia's 46th passing attempt was a perfect pass and the final attempt of the night for either team.

There were 45 seconds between whistles that would eventually become the rally that claimed the championship.

All six Badgers on the court touched the ball with a quality contact during the final point.

Finishing with 10 kills and an attacking efficiency of .231, Grace Loberg was the only outside hitter in the match to hit over .200.

Offensively, Loberg was involved in 31 rallies generating her 39 total attack attempts. It was there where she showcased her range and high-level volleyball IQ.

Grace either terminated the ball for a Badger point or executed a shot with favorable odds for the Badgers to regain the advantage later in the rally.

An impressive 31 of Loberg's 39 attack attempts were followed by a quality Badger counter attack.

With an acrobatic play at the net, Hilley pulled a Nebraska blocker up and made a clean backset dishing Rettke an open net. The match was won on the duo's stapled "slide" attack.

Championship Point

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES

Kelly Sheffield and his staff have been working together for over a decade, dating back to his days at the University of Dayton.

Coaches Brittany Dildine and Gary White were hired by Sheffield in 2009 and 2011. Director of Volleyball Operations, Jessica Williams, was an All-American setter for Sheffield in 2010.

Never missing the NCAA Tournament, the quartet has accumulated eight conference championships, four final four appearances including a national championship.

Former Badger Libero and team captain, Annemarie Hickey was the lone senior when Kelly Sheffield arrived at Wisconsin in 2013. That year, the dynamic duo charged through the NCAA tournament bringing the Badgers back to the Final Four for the first time since 2000.

Stepping away from the sport in 2015 and 2016, Hickey found her way back to the Badgers as Wisconsin Volleyball's Director of Scouting and Player Development in 2017.

Annemarie has been on the Wisconsin Volleyball roster for every Big Ten Championship and Final Four appearance in the Sheffield era.

After a grueling 2020 season which was postponed to January 2021 due to the pandemic, five Badgers took advantage of the COVID-19 bonus year to return for a fifth season.

Lauren Barnes, Giorgia Civita, Sydney Hilley, Grace Loberg, and Dana Rettke make up the group of seniors that put their lives on hold for a shot at the championship title.

They will always be remembered as The Super Seniors.

"Rettke became the first player in history to ever be a five-time first team All-American, and in the same season she so deservingly won the AVCA National Player of the Year. I could not be happier for Dana in achieving this. She radiates kindness, leadership and confidence ... she is as humble as ever, an incredible teammate, and now the best player in the nation. She came back for her fifth season and led her team to the title. Rettke is a dominant volleyball player, and we will miss seeing those fist bumps on the collegiate stage immensely."

NCAA.com // Michella Chester

"I didn't want to leave here not ending on a great note. With COVID, not having fans in the Field House, not achieving our ultimate goal of winning a national championship, and I know that potential is in us. I didn't want to leave that in the air if I could have one more shot at it."

Volleyballmag.com // Sydney Hilley

The 2022 season will feature one more super senior in Danielle Hart who tore her ACL in September, 2021 after putting together weeks of All-American statistics.

Choosing to return for a 6th year, the 6'4" middle blocker is now a captain for the young Badger team as they prepare for another run in 2022.

Hart will return as a veteran to a team full of young stars including Anna Smrek who stands at 6'9" and has an approach touch of 11'2". The outstanding freshman, was selected as the 2021 NCAA Volleyball Championship Most Outstanding Player.

Sydney Hilley ended her collegiate career as a 5x All-American setter. She played and started 114 of 115 matches of her career.

The 2021 Wisconsin Volleyball team finished the season 31-3.

“This group will be remembered as not just one of the best volleyball classes in school history, but one of the best classes in any sport in school history. The mark that they’ve made, the number of All-American awards they’ve gotten, the individual accomplishments, the school records, the final four appearances, the Big Ten championships, the NCAA Championship, you’ve got to put that class up there with anybody. I know Badger fans didn't take that for granted. It’s a special group.”

Madison.com // Kelly Sheffield

2021 WISCONSIN VOLLEYBALL TEAM ROSTER

Back Row: Diane Nordstrom, Kristy Walker, Tim Gaffney, Julia Orzol, Jessica Williams, Danielle Hart, Anna Smrek, Julia Wohlert, Dana Rettke, Drew Johnson, Brynn Teeling, Bucky Badger, Kevin Schultz, Kelly Sheffield

Middle Row: Mackenzie Long, Annemarie Hickey, Jade Demps, Lauren Jardine, MJ Hammill, Sydney Hilley, Molly Pistono

Front Row: Brittany Dildine, Gary White, Gio Civita, Liz Gregorski, Devyn Robinson, Grace Loberg, Lauren Barnes, Joslyn Boyer, Anna MacDonald, Sydney Reed, Izzy Ashburn

Footnotes

Cinematic video highlights courtesy of Bianca Miceli. Advanced stats generated by Annemarie Hickey. Photos provided by Julia Kostopoulos, Jamie Schwabrow, Greg Anderson, Suvir Grover, and Te Bates. NCAA images and those from freelancers employed by UW-Madison should be considered copyrighted materials. Match notes recorded by Diane Nordstrom. Editor-in-chief: Brooke Robinson.

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FootNotes