23.10.23

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW.

The undefeated women's volleyball teams of Wisconsin and Nebraska met in Lincoln for the mid-season lead in the conference.  The match was inside, with decent attendance setting a local record of 9198 fans.  It came down to five sets.  "It took a reversal of a point at the end as a kill by Sarah Franklin was nullified by a net violation call on video review."  That's right, it's either going to extra serves tied at fourteen, or it's over.  "If there was a quibble, it’s that such a historic match ended on a replay. But those quibbles will not come from the Nebraska side."  No, their game recap, which is instructive reading, notes, "The Huskers (19-0, 10-0 Big Ten) finally beat the Badgers (18-1, 9-1 Big Ten) for the first time since 2017, snapping a streak of 10 straight losses. Nebraska also beat the No. 1-ranked team for the first time since 2017. "

You can either grouse about replay review (I'm not a fan) or take an education from it.  If you're Nebraska, you're looking at the second set from the perspective of "could we have taken control of the match?"  If you're Wisconsin, you're looking at the fourth set from the perspective of "could we have put them away then?"  Come the fifth set, they're probably looking at net violations.  Those and service errors can be a consequence of playing aggressively, avoiding them by not playing aggressively probably doesn't win.

There will be a conference rematch in Madison around Thanksgiving.

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