Smrek, Franklin, Wisconsin sweep to end Nebraska’s unbeaten run

MADISON, Wisconsin — A few takeaways from Wisconsin’s 25-22, 28-26, 25-16 victory Friday over Nebraska.

Wisconsin (25-3, 16-3 Big Ten) is better with 6-foot-9 Anna Smrek.

Nebraska (27-1, 18-1) will not finish unbeaten.

And in this what-have-done-for-me-lately world of NCAA Division I women’s volleyball, both teams get no rest after a three-set, 1-hour, 48-minute slugfest: Wisconsin plays host to Iowa while Nebraska goes to Minnesota.

“This match for us wasn’t about Nebraska,” Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield said. “It really wasn’t. When you’ve lost two out of your last three, it was about us playing well. It was really important to us for us to start playing well. No matter who we were playing.”

But it was a sweep of Nebraska, the rival of all rivals, and a team that happened to be the lone unbeaten.

“It was not about ending somebody’s undefeated season,” Sheffield said. “None of us went into this year saying if we play somebody’s that undefeated let’s go and bury them. Or it’s Nebraska, let’s go. We wanted to play well headed into the tournament. 

“Are we the best team? When we’re playing well we’re a handful, I know that. I also know there are a lot of teams that can stress you in a lot of different ways. And that team over the course of the season has earned the right to say they’re the best team in the country. They’ve been playing really, really well. Today was our day and we’ve got another one in 24 hours.”

The loss before a rocking UW Field House crowd of 7,229 should not keep top-ranked Nebraska from being the top seed in the NCAA Tournament — the bracket selection announcement is Sunday — and the victory certainly ensured that No. 3 Wisconsin gets one of the coveted top seeds.

“It would be a crime if they’re not,” Nebraska coach John Cook said.

Anna Smrek had 18 kills — six in the third set with one error in 13 attacks for Wisconsin. She hit…