MADISON, Wis. – No. 11 Penn State fought back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set before falling 3-2 (25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 20-25, 15-8) to No. 2 Wisconsin in the Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Thursday at the UW Field House.
The Nittany Lions, who were competing in their 34th NCAA Regional, closed the season at 26-8 overall. They competed in their 42nd-consecutive NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament to remain the only program in the country to play in the event every year.
The Badgers upped their record to 28-3 with their 21st-straight victory. They will play Pitt in the Regional Final on Saturday at the UW Field House.
Penn State fell behind 2-0 in the match before coming alive in the next two sets in front of a raucous crowd in Madison. The Lions trailed 21-18 in the third set before tying it up with a 3-0 run. The Badgers took a 22-21 lead, but the Lions responded with another 3-0 run that included a kill by Alexa Markley, an ace by Gillian Grimes, and a kill by Allie Holland. Kashauna Williams secured the 25-23 win with a kill. Markley and Williams had four kills apiece in the set, while Cassie Kuerschen contributed six kills.
The fourth set wasn’t as close as Penn State took a 12-11 lead and never trailed again on their way to a 25-20 triumph. The Lions had five aces in the set, including two apiece from Kuerschen and Seleisa Elisaia. Katie Clark hit .625 with six kills to lead the offensive attack.
Penn State scored the first point in the fifth set on a kill by Williams, but Wisconsin…
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