KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Wisconsin volleyball team is heading to Kansas City for the Final Four, and News 3 Now is going with them.

News 3 Now and Channel3000.com will have live coverage from the T-Mobile Center for the rest of the Badgers’ tournament run. Wisconsin takes on No. 1-seed Kentucky on Thursday and, with a win, would play in the National Championship game on Sunday.

It has been another memorable season for the Badgers, who are appearing in their seventh National Semifinal in program history and fourth since 2020. The Badgers lost just four games this season and only once away from home.

Wisconsin has flexed their might in the NCAA Tournament. Back-to-back sweeps over Eastern Illinois and North Carolina sent the Badgers to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Badgers then pulled a big upset over No. 2-seed Stanford, and knocked off top-seeded Texas in the Elite Eight. The Badgers had lost their previous four matches against the Longhorns, including in two National Semifinals.

What is powering Wisconsin forward is efficiency in attack and a smothering front court. The Badgers as a team are hitting .325 on the season while throwing up 257.5 blocks, including 41 solos. Wisconsin’s opponents have been held to a .184 hitting percentage this season.

And who can fans thank for such a powerful attack? Well, AVCA Player of the Year award finalist Mimi Colyer is a good person to start with. She ranks third in the NCAA with 5.39 kills per set this year and is hitting .340 on the year.

Add on the efficiency of Carter Booth, who ranks second in the NCAA in hitting percentage with .454 on 423 attacks, and the Badgers’ second-highest scorer Una Vajagic and you’ve got one of the best three-pronged attacks the sport has to offer.

But that attack wouldn’t get very far without some help in the back row, and that’s where sophomore setter Charlie Fuerbringer comes in. She leads the nation in assists per set with 12.32.

Fuerbringer’s impact can be felt throughout the team. Of the Badgers’ four losses, three came when she was out with injury.

While Wisconsin is carrying loads of momentum after knocking off top-seeded Texas, they can’t rest on their laurels. Up next is No. 1 Kentucky, who have not dropped a game since Sept. 10.

The Wildcats are led by their own AVCA Player of the Year Award finalist, Eva Hudson. She’s familiar with the Badgers, having transferred to Wisconsin from Purdue. Hudson led the Big Ten in kills-per-set while at Purdue last season.

And she’s far from the only threat on the team. Brooklyn DeLeye leads the Wildcats in kills-per-set with 4.69, while Lizzie Carr boasts and impressive .361 hitting percentage on 452 attacks.

The Badgers and Wildcats will square off on Thursday, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first semifinal match between No. 3-seed Texas A&M and No. 1-seed Pittsburgh.

Make sure to follow News 3 Now and Channel3000.com on air and online to catch all of the action.

​COPYRIGHT 2025 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.