BTN.com staff, BTN.com staff, December 13, 2014
Reigning national champ and No. 5 seed Penn State is headed to its seventh Final Four in the last nine years.
The Nittany Lions took down Big Ten champ Wisconsin, 3-1, Sunday afternoon in the Louisville Regional Final. The Badgers, last year's national runner-ups, won the first set before their nemesis rallied for three straight sets.
Penn State will face top-seed Stanford in the national semifinals at 9:30 p.m. ET Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Read full GoPSUsports.com recap.
Nebraska was looking to join Penn State in the national semifinals, but it was swept by BYU late Saturday night in the Seattle Regional Final.
BTN play-by-play man Mike Wolf live tweeted during the Wisconsin-Penn State match, and you can see some of his tweets below.
[ MORE: Get Penn State vs. Wisconsin stats | NCAA bracket ]
SET 1
The last thing you want to see early in this match. Hope Lauren Carlini is alright.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
I'd be shocked if we don't see Carlini back soon. She's a player that would have to be held back by the trainer to keep her off the floor.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
6 errors already for Penn State. Lions hitting .000, Wisconsin hitting .300.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Set 1 goes to @BadgerVB. Unfazed by the momentary absence of Carlini & Wisconsin has the 1-0 lead on Penn State.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
The Badgers ends a streak of 50 straight sets won by Penn State. The Nittany Lions had not dropped a set since Oct. 17th till that set.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
SET 2
Wisconsin's Courtney Thomas showing off her own blocking skill set. Great match thus far for Thomas.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
All the more impressive that Carlini is setting a solid attack while gingerly moving across the net to set for Wisconsin.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Spark from Simone Lee off the bench for @PennStateVBALL. 4 kills on 5 swings in 2nd set. Lee led PSU vs WISC in 1st match with 12 Kills.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
The only newcomer on this Badger roster, Kelli Bates, has been vital this season. Showing it again so far in this despite that last error.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Flipping the script between PSU & WISC. Badgers with more errors in the 2nd set while Nittany Lions have cut down on them. WISC 8, PSU 4.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Set 2 goes to @PennStateVBALL. The balance, spark from Lee & Haleigh Washington coming alive led to a 25-16 win for the defending champs.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
SET 3
Can't help but think back to Hancock's ankle injury in 2012 in LVille, did not improve as match went on. We'll see how Carlini manages.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Badger block has been solid in this one, 7 team blocks so far & holding the advantage over a bigger Penn State team.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Trading points in this 3rd set, exactly what we hoped to see from the top two teams in #B1GVolleyball.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
SET 4
Whitney having a great match after a slow start in set 1. 10 kills now to lead the way for Penn State so far.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
It?s amazing but also not surprising that Ali Frantti has been out since the 1st set. If you?re not getting it done, Rose will take you out.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
How even are these two teams? Penn State & Wisconsin are both hitting .170 for the match here in the 4th.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Back to the national semifinals for @PennStateVBALL! A 4 set win over Wisconsin has the Nittany Lions once again playing on the final wknd.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014
Oklahoma native @PennStateVBALL's Micha Hancock is headed to Final Four in Okl. City. Could not draw up a better way for her career to end.
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) December 13, 2014