7 thoughts on Wisconsin volleyball's Sweet 16 win vs. Stanford
The Badgers are headed to the Elite Eight to face a familiar foe from this season. Here's what to know about Friday's victory.
The University of Wisconsin volleyball team will get its rematch against Texas, but this time with a Final Four berth on the line.
Wisconsin (27-4) prevailed in a four-set victory over Stanford (29-5) during a Sweet 16 matchup Friday in Austin, Texas. It was a career day for sophomore setter Charlie Fuerbringer, while two outside hitters — Mimi Colyer and Una Vajagic — again registered double-doubles and were key cogs of the Badgers’ offensive onslaught.
Wisconsin now will prepare for an Elite Eight battle with Texas (26-3) that will decide which program moves on from the Austin regional to play in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals. The Longhorns took care of Indiana earlier Friday afternoon, and the SEC powerhouse swept the Badgers at the Kohl Center on Aug. 31.
Here are the thoughts from Friday’s regional semifinal where the Badgers ultimately prevailed.
Wisconsin relied on its ‘aircraft carrier”
Coach Kelly Sheffield said Monday that a team “can’t go far in this tournament without having at least one aircraft carrier.”
“And she is that,” he continued.
“She” is Colyer, of course. The unanimous first-team All-Big Ten honoree led the way with 27 kills and hit .373 against Stanford. She also worked on the defensive end with 10 digs, which secured her ninth double-double of the season.
It’s the 12th time this year that Colyer has registered at least 20 kills in a match. She now has 573 kills in 2025, which has surpassed the single-season school marks in the 30-point and 25-point rally scoring eras of women’s college volleyball.
Colyer’s still on the path to shatter the program’s single-season kills per set average in any scoring era since 1974 (5.38).
Inside the numbers of Mimi Colyer's offensive dominance
MADISON, Wis. — There isn’t just one number that illustrates the offensive dominance Mimi Colyer has displayed for the University of Wisconsin volleyball program this season.