Kentucky volleyball vs. Wisconsin live updates: Score, highlights

No. 1 seed Kentucky women’s volleyball will face No. 3 seed Wisconsin in the second national semifinal at the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament on Thursday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The matchup features two 2025 AVCA Player of the Year finalists. Kentucky outside hitter Eva Hudson is up for the award, after hitting .317 with 4.54 kills per set this season, as is veteran senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer with 20 or more kills in nine matches this season.

Both teams have won a national championship in the past five years. Wisconsin won its first title in program history in 2021, while Kentucky hoisted its only NCAA national championship trophy in 2020.

Follow along as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates and highlights of the Final Four matchup:

NCAA volleyball tournament score: Wisconsin 2, Kentucky 1

3rd set: Wisconsin 25, Kentucky 21

Wisconsin is back on top after winning the first set, 25-21. The Badgers ended the set on a 3-0 run.

The Badgers hit .386 in the third set, compared to .333 for Kentucky. Mimi Coyler leads Wisconsin with 22 kills on .395 hitting, while Carter Booth has tied her career-high with 14 kills and three blocks.

Kentucky’s Eva Hudson has 14 kills on .344 hitting, while Brooklyn Deleye added nine kills on .194 hitting.

2nd set: Kentucky 25, Wisconsin 22

Wisconsin dominated the first set, but Kentucky made some adjustments and came alive in the second set.

Kentucky jumped to a 7-4 lead over Wisconsin in the second, but the gritty Badgers surged mid-set to retake the lead, 20-18. Kentucky went on a 6-0 run to earn a set point, and despite Wisconsin fighting off two set points, Eva Hudson cashed in on the third set point to even it a set apiece.

“We just got some breaks and we executed the serving,” Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner said, adding that his team needs to serve tougher to get Wisconsin off the net. “The serve has got to pick up and our transition game has got to score some points.”

Wisconsin’s Carter Booth recorded 12 kills hitting .786 and Mimi Colyer added 10 kills on .318 hitting.

Kentucky’s Hudson is up to nine kills hitting .389.

1st set final: Wisconsin 25, Kentucky 12

The first set belonged to Wisconsin’s Carter Booth. The senior middle blocker recorded seven kills and two blocks hitting 1.000 in the Badgers’ 22-12 first set win. Mimi Colyer added seven kills.

Wisconsin hit .682 in the first set and held Kentucky to .056 hitting.

1st set: Wisconsin 10, Kentucky 3

Wisconsin came out red hot and jumped to a 10-3 lead after Carter Booth (5) and Mimi Colyer (3) combined for seven kills to start the first set. The Badgers are hitting 1.000 to start. 

Carter Booth height

Wisconsin senior middle blocker Carter Booth is listed at 6-foot-7.

When is Kentucky vs. Wisconsin volleyball?

The second semifinal matchup between No. 1 Kentucky (29-2)and Wisconsin (28-4) will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first semifinal between No. 1 Pitt and No. 3 Texas A&M on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Kentucky vs. Wisconsin volleyball: Channel, streaming

• Date: Thursday, Dec. 18 
• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. CT)
• Location: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Missouri)
• Channel: ESPN
• Stream: The ESPN App, Fubo

Kentucky Wildcats starting lineup

Head coach: Craig Skinner

• 6 Kassie O’Brien | S 6-1 – Freshman
• 7 Eva Hudson | OH 6-1 – Senior
• 10 Kennedy Washington | MB 6-0 – Sophomore
• 11 Molly Berezowitz | DS 5-5 – Junior
• 12 Molly Tuozzo | L 5-7 – Junior
• 15 Lizzie Carr | MB 6-6 – Redshirt Junior
• 17 Brooklyn DeLeye | OH 6-2 – Junior

Eva Hudson stats

The 6-1 senior outside hitter was named the SEC Player of the Year after hitting .317 with 4.54 kills per set and 504 total kills on the year. She leads Kentucky’s offense, which is hitting .295 this year.

Brooklyn DeLeye stats 

The 6-2 junior outside hitter is averaging 4.69 kills per set and hitting .289 with a team-high 521 kills this year. DeLeye is responsible for more than 564.5 points this year.

Kassie O’Brien wins AVCA Freshman of the Year

Kentucky setter Kassie O’Brien was named the 2025 AVCA Freshman of the Year, the first Wildcat to win the award, after averaging 11.02 assists per set this season.

Wisconsin Badgers starting lineup

Head coach: Kelly Sheffield

• 1 Una Vajagic | OH 6-0 – Redshirt Sophomore
• 7 Kristen Simon | L 5-8 – Freshman
• 15 Mimi Colyer | OH 6-3 – Senior
• 17 Alicia Andrew | MB 6-3 – Redshirt Senior
• 24 Charlie Fuerbringer | S 5-11 – Sophomore
• 32 Grace Egan | RS 6-1 – Redshirt Sophomore
• 52 Carter Booth | MB 6-7 – Senior

Mimi Colyer stats

The 6-3 senior outside hitter had 20 or more kills in nine matches this season, including 23 kills vs. No. 1 Texas in the Elite Eight and 27 kills vs. No. 2 Stanford in the Round of 16. She averages 5.39 kills per set.

Wisconsin volleyball arrives at T-Mobile Center

Kentucky volleyball arrives at T-Mobile Center

NCAA volleyball player of the year finalists

The 2025 AVCA Player of the Year shortlist was narrowed to four finalists on Monday: Pitt junior right side hitter Olivia Babcock, Wisconsin senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer, Kentucky senior outside hitter Eva Hudson and Nebraska junior setter Bergen Reilly.

NCAA volleyball transfer portal 2026

The 2025 NCAA women’s college volleyball tournament is down to the Final Four with Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Texas A&Madvancing to the semifinals, but it’s never too early to look ahead to next season.

As the NCAA crowns a national champion this weekend, some of the biggest names in the sport have entered the transfer portal in search of a new home for the 2026 season. Check out the best players available here.

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