Devyn Robinson and the Wisconsin volleyball team are headed back to the Final Four.
Again.
Robinson had 11 kills and six blocks as the fourth-seeded Badgers swept Big Ten conference rival Minnesota in the Madison regional final on Saturday at UW Field House. The former Ankeny Centennial star was named to the all-region team.
“I just went out there with a mindset of ‘I’m going to go do this for my seniors,'” said Robinson, a sophomore middle blocker. “It’s their last game in here. I’m going to make sure we get this win for them and get them to the Final Four in their last year. I just played with my heart, for them.”
Wisconsin (29-3) posted a 25-18, 26-24, 25-22 victory to defeat Minnesota (22-9) for the third time this season. The Badgers advanced to their third straight national semifinal appearance in convincing fashion, winning a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament match by a 3-0 score.
Wisconsin has now won 18 straight sets, not having dropped a set since playing Nebraska for the Big Ten championship on Nov. 26.
“I don’t think you could ask for a better match to go out on, on your career in the Field House,” said Wisconsin setter Sydney Hilley, who was named the tournament MVP. “The energy was just electric. They added so much to the environment. I thought the game was just super fun and one of the funnest matches I’ve ever played.”
The Gophers fought off two set points in the second set before Robinson and Hilley combined for a block to give Wisconsin its third set point at 25-24. A Minnesota attack error gave the Badgers the set win.
Wisconsin then won a defensive battle in the third set to close out the match. Dana Rettke had six of her 15 kills in the set and was also named to the all-region team.
Robinson had four of her blocks in the final set.
“It was a battle out there,” said Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield. “I thought we were really good at the end of sets. I thought we made some great plays. I thought it was a balanced effort and the three up here (Hilley, Rettke and Robinson) I thought were really big, but they weren’t the only three that were really big. I thought we all played our part, and we’re excited that we’re still playing. I’m excited that we get to keep coaching these guys.”
Wisconsin will play No. 1 Louisville (32-0) in the first national semifinal on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. No. 3 PIttsburgh (30-3) faces No. 10 Nebraska (25-7) in the second semifinal at 8:30.
The national championship is slated for Saturday at 6:30 p.m.