Pittsburgh back into semis as Panthers knock off defending-champion Wisconsin

There will be a new NCAA Division I volleyball champion.

Pittsburgh joined ACC co-champion Louisville in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals by upsetting Wisconsin in five sets on its home floor. Pitt and Louisville, which split their regular-season matches, play each other Thursday.

The 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 19-25, 15-13 victory put Pittsburgh (31-3) back into the final four for the second straight year, while Wisconsin’s season ended 28-4. The Big Ten champion had won 21 in a row. With Ohio State losing earlier to Texas, this will be the first year since 2002 without a Big Ten team in the national semifinals.

Pitt’s Courtney Buzzerio had 18 kills, an ace, six digs and a blocks. Chiamaka Nwokolo had 12 kills with one error in 24 attacks, two digs and three blocks. Valeria Vazquez Gomez had 11 kills, an assist, 22 digs and a block. The Panthers hit .217.

Devyn Robinson had 21 kills for Wisconsin with three errors in 41 attacks to hit .439. She had three digs and three blocks. Sarah Franklin had 15 kills, 11 digs and two blocks. The Badgers hit .266. Gulce Guctekin had 24 digs, 14 assists and an ace.

This story will be updated.