Wisconsin vs EIU in NCAA volleyball; recap as Badgers sweep Panthers

8:05 am CT December 5, 2025Share this update

More to read from Wisconsin’s NCAA tournament match against Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

9:09 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin stats leaders vs Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

• Kills: Mimi Colyer and Una Vajagic with 10
• Hitting percentage: Trinity Shadd-Ceres with 1.000 hitting percentage on four total attacks
• Service aces: Kristen Simon and Charlie Fuerbringer with two
• Assists: Charlie Fuerbringer with 35
• Digs: Kristen Simon with 15
• Total blocks: Alicia Andrew and Charlie Fuerbringer with four each

8:31 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Who does Wisconsin play next in NCAA tournament?

John Steppe

Wisconsin will face North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament after the third-seeded Badgers swept Eastern Illinois. North Carolina upset sixth-seeded UTEP in the first round before Wisconsin’s match.

The match will be Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and air on ESPN+.

8:29 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin completes sweep vs Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

For the 13th time in Kelly Sheffield’s 13 seasons as Wisconsin head coach, the Badgers are advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin won the third set, 25-19, to complete the sweep over Eastern Illinois. The Panthers went on a 4-0 scoring run before UW finally put it away with a kill by Tosia Serafinowska.

8:23 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin has 19-11 lead in third set vs Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

Wisconsin is on a 3-0 scoring run as a sweep is pretty much inevitable. Mimi Colyer is up to 10 kills, extending her streak to 16 consecutive matches with at least 10 kills. (Her only match without 10-plus kills was on Oct. 10 as the Badgers were swept by Penn State.)

8:18 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Eastern Illinois appears more competitive in third set, but Badgers still have nice lead

John Steppe

After scoring only six points in the second set, Eastern Illinois already has nine points in the third set. UW is hitting its worst percentage of the match at a still-very-respectable .348 and has more service errors in this set (three) than in the first two sets combined (one).

8:03 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

See the replay of Trinity Shadd-Ceres’ second kill of match

John Steppe

8:01 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin vs Eastern Illinois stats comparison through first two sets

John Steppe

• Kills: Wisconsin 30, Eastern Illinois 10
• Hitting percentage: Wisconsin .510, Eastern Illinois minus-.033
• Blocks: Wisconsin 5, Eastern Illinois 2
• Service aces: Wisconsin 5, Eastern Illinois 1

7:57 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin dominates Eastern Illinois in second set, wins 25-6

John Steppe

Wisconsin’s second set was its most lopsided one of the season.

The Badgers held Eastern Illinois to minus-.077 hitting and took the set, 25-6. Mimi Colyer had an extended service run at the end. Madison Quest and Trinity Shadd-Ceres subbed in later in the set and made a quick impact. Shadd-Ceres had a pair of kills to make it 24-6 before an EIU attack error clinched the set for the Badgers.

7:33 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin takes first set vs Eastern Illinois, 25-11

John Steppe

Wisconsin unsurprisingly has an obvious talent advantage here. The Badgers hit .480 in the first set while Eastern Illinois hit .000. Mimi Colyer had six kills without any attack errors. Una Vajagic has five kills, but she also has three attack errors.

It would be even more lopsided if UW had not gotten a little sloppy later in the set. UW at one point had a 17-3 lead.

7:24 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin goes on 5-0 scoring run, takes 17-3 lead in first set vs Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

This could be a very fast match.

Wisconsin has a 17-3 lead over Eastern Illinois. UW is hitting .750 while EIU is hitting minus-.211. EIU is siding out only 12.5% of the time.

7:11 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin setter Addy Horner not in uniform vs Eastern Illinois

John Steppe

Wisconsin backup setter Addy Horner was in sweatpants during starting lineups. Charlie Fuerbringer, of course, is starting.

7:07 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

When will Wisconsin vs. Eastern Illinois begin?

John Steppe

The official start time for the Wisconsin-Eastern Illinois match is 7:12 p.m. CT. There was a 30-minute break after the UTEP-North Carolina match.

6:58 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Wisconsin pregame notes ahead of playing Eastern Illinois in first round

John Steppe

• Wisconsin has not lost to an unranked opponent this season.
• The Badgers only lost two sets in the entire month of November.
• Every year in the Kelly Sheffield era, Wisconsin has advanced to at least the regional semifinals (or Sweet 16).
• UW’s .317 hitting percentage is second-best in the country, trailing only Nebraska. It also is at pace to finish as the second-highest hitting percentage in UW program history.

6:33 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

North Carolina topples UTEP in four sets, Wisconsin match to begin at roughly 7 p.m.

John Steppe

The anticipated 7 p.m. start will be pretty close to accurate after North Carolina toppled sixth-seeded UTEP in four sets. There is a 30-minute break before Wisconsin’s match against Eastern Illinois gets underway.

6:30 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

What is Wisconsin’s all-time record against Eastern Illinois?

John Steppe

Wisconsin is 4-2 overall all-time against Eastern Illinois. The Badgers have not faced the Panthers in the last three decades, though. Here are all the all-time matchups:

• Sept. 22, 1978: Loss in three sets
• Sept. 3, 1983: Win in four sets
• Aug. 31, 1984: Loss in three sets
• Sept. 2, 1988: Win in four sets
• Sept. 9, 1994: Win in three sets
• Sept. 15, 1995: Win in three sets

5:52 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

Who will Wisconsin volleyball play next if/when it defeats Eastern Illinois?

John Steppe

The winner of the Wisconsin-Eastern Illinois match will play the winner of the UTEP-North Carolina match. The second-round match will be Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the UW Field House. The Badgers have yet to lose a first or second-round match in the Kelly Sheffield era.

5:30 pm CT December 4, 2025Share this update

How to watch Wisconsin vs Eastern Illinois NCAA tournament match

John Steppe

• TV: none
• Streaming: ESPN+, which requires a subscription.