Wisconsin volleyball Elite Eight match preview
#1 seed Wisconsin volleyball takes on #2 seed Pitt tonight in a battle of contrasting styles between two of the nation's elite teams.
Wisconsin has won 21 straight matches, just one shy of a program record. To tie the record set in 2014, the Badgers will have to overcome their biggest challenge yet this season. Wisconsin will face the co-ACC champion Pitt Panthers tonight with a trip to the NCAA Tournament Final Four on the line. First serve is at 7:00 PM CST on ESPNU.
Head coach Kelly Sheffield's squad advanced to the Elite Eight by showcasing its stout defense. The Badgers will need another elite defensive performance to defeat Pitt and its high-powered offense.
Courtney Buzzerio leads the Pitt offense, which records the 11th-most kills per set in the country. The 6' 5" grad student records leads the Panthers in kills and points per set. She tallied a match-high 19 kills in Pitt's 3-1 victory over Florida in the Sweet 16.
Defensively, the Panthers hold opponents to the 12th-lowest hitting percentage in the nation. Middle blocker Serena Grey leads the team in blocks. While she is not Pitt's first offensive option, Grey is incredibly accurate on the attack. Her .408 hitting percentage is the 12th best in the country.
At 30-3, Pitt has amassed an impressive resume this season. Its three losses came to NCAA tournament teams: Towson, Louisville, and San Diego. Combined, those squads have compiled a record of 88-4. Louisville and San Diego both play in the Elite Eight matches today.
The winner of tonight's match will advance to the Final Four in Omaha, Nebraska. If Wisconsin prevails, it will play the winner of Louisville and Oregon. That match is the first of the four regional finals broadcast on ESPNU today. All regional final matches will be played consecutively beginning at 3:00 PM CST.
Wisconsin is playing in its fifth-consecutive regional final and is seeking its fourth-straight appearance in the national semifinal. Last season, the Badgers won the national championship - the first in program history.
Pitt is playing in its third-consecutive regional final and is also seeking a repeat appearance in the Final Four. The Panthers fell to Nebraska in last season's national semifinal.