Post-Game Media Conference || Wisconsin Volleyball vs Nebraska || Nov 1, 2024

[@garybenson9339]

I am a Nebraska fan in Lincoln, Kelly is a great coach and he and these three young women showed their class here after a tough loss. They should be proud.

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

I think he's a pretty good coach, but I definitely wouldn't go so far as to call him great. For four years, Kelly had Dana Rettke and Devin Robinson at middle, Sydney Hilley at setter, Jade Demps, Grace Loberg, Danielle Hart and Smrek (for two) at outside, and Izzy Ashburn, Georgia Civita and Lauren Barnes as DSs. It was the best roster ever assembled based on how these girls are doing in pro leagues. The fact that Kelly led them to one championship is criminally poor coaching.

[@dbmac76]

@@TheGrapeofWrath1 eh, Badgers finally won the champtionship when they were all older and more experienced. I think they had three grad students in 21? Look at Texas last year with 24 yr old O'Neal serving dimes. She and Akana's serving get most of the credit for that win. And SMU taking down Pitt and Nebraska this year wiht 7 grad students and 5 seniors (approx). Experience and years of building skills and confidence at high level play is incredibly valuable, esp when these players are already talented

[@DanteTangco]

I’m a Husker fan but the Coach and these 3 ladies are very classy after a loss.

[@YoWhatGoesHere]

The fact that is the first time this happened in 11 years says a lot about the Wisconsin program. Coming into the conference, us Nebraska fans expected to see Penn State as our main rival and competition but Wisconsin has really taken control of that position and that's a big testament to what they have built in Madison.

[@LoveLearning521]

Nebraska fan here…I have so much respect for Sarah Franklin… she is a stud! But last night she needed help and didn’t get much….Nebraska was on fire…. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen those intense looks from the Nebraska players.

[@danrose3233]

You can see the contrast in styles between the two coaches. Wisconsin focuses on recruiting size and Nebraska focuses more on athleticism. If Wisconsin doesn't have a dominating block or passes poorly on serve they have difficulty finishing points when out of system. Nebraska has the ability to scramble better on defense and create multiple options on offense that kept Wisconsin guessing a lot. As a Nebraska fan I approve of this approach when all parts are working well together especially around Reilly the setting mixing up the options on offense.

[@Blondebuzzard08]

Bravo for great game Wisconsin. We hav chased you for years and fell short. It was so fun to watch and finally come out on top. We will see you again soon. GBR!!! 🎈🎈

[@20Bruinboy]

Class act, Wisconsin. Wisconsin fans should be proud of these players and their terrific coach. Nebraska fan here, but all sorts of respect for the Badgers.

[@TH-jd9ib]

Mama Merritt had her team calm and confident as well as executing herself. GBR Wisconsin was tight on their home court and their team chemistry was missing-not a lot of eye contact during their huddles.

[@tallgrass9366]

Win or lose. Coach is a classy act.

[@Coopsterish]

Nebraska simply has more weapons - offensively and defensively…and they are only getting better. Taylor Landfair has stepped up recently which makes this team even scarier going into the tournament.

[@joshuaporter8606]

Class act as always

[@danrose3233]

Husker fan here. Wisconsin has no reason to hang their heads. What Kelly said about consistency and John's approach to wear down a team I believer are very perceptive. The rematch in Lincoln will be bonkers. PSU should be looking over their should because I think they will need to really fight to stay in the top 2 by the end of the season.

[@jayurban8282]

No, this is an elite team and Kelly is a great coach. Probably elite eight or final four team.

[@fb6031]

Wisconsin recruited from Canada, Turkey, and others countries 😂

[@scrub44]

if final four isnt elite...what is..??

[@scrub44]

the elite eight......?? the....ELITE eight. lol.

[@franklicary3407]

Imo Sarah was not used to having 3 blockers across from her. Other Wisconsin hitters had too much adrenaline. They will learn get better.

[@CraigFoster-ue5up]

Wisconsin don’t sweat it, you could have hand picked any players across the country and still lost tonight, Nebraska was just on FIRE this match.

[@johnmommens5952]

Really? You think Huskers could be at a team comprised of all the best players in college? I'm a lifetime husker fan and played VB for 30 years. I would argue your statement is not realistic.

[@janabeckman545]

Actually, that was not Nebraska's best effort against ranked teams. Unforced attacking errors gave Wisconsin 8 or 9 points. Nebraska's serving pressure, finding ways to block Pavlan an Smrek and pulling Wisconsin out of system was excellent on Friday.

[@josiahterry3767]

Oof in the chatt😂

[@ryed9899]

While Sarah is a GOAT….but even GOATs need help, unfortunately it was lacking that night.

[@franklicary3407]

Sweeping Wisconsin was a fluke. See what happens next time.

[@georgie5986]

Wisconsin has a lot of individual talent. They look out of sync. Their setter needs to read the opposition at a higher level. Shes easy to read. For some reason they're not cohesive together to be a strong elite team.

[@spencerdouglas1538]

Wisconsin just could not pass and Nebraska back row just better. Smrek had an off night which hurts as that is a Wisconsin equalizer. Setting for Wisconsin is not good enough in my opinion to run 5-1. Need to go back to last year plan and run 6-2 and use the great frontline to win.

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

If you watch Smrek, when she is blocked a couple of times, she tends to get rattled and tries hitting to the corners, which increases her error rate and lessens her effectiveness.

[@danrose3233]

@@TheGrapeofWrath1 It is rare for Smrek to get blocked so I don't think mentally she knows how to adjust well.

[@eeevon1010]

I disagree with the 6-2 honestly Furbringer is a young setter who's aggressive in the front row. Not worth giving up that aggressiveness for a system that relies so heavily on serve receive. Wisconsin's serve receive is not as good as it was in previous years so its not a good idea

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

@@eeevon1010 I absolutely agree that the 6-2 is a recipe for mediocrity.

[@jimludacka9342]

Nebraska was just the better team last night thats all folks

[@robbkohlbek4180]

Why are most great teams head coach bald?..

[@catsj1767]

John Cook isn’t bald😊

[@steveschweitzer7116]

This team is not as good as previous years.

[@fb6031]

Which team? 😂

[@LMK-0975]

Good Lord! The Wisconsin coach sounded like Biden answering questions. Lost and confused.

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

Did you see Trump pretending to suck off a microphone at his rally yesterday? That's the guy you're supporting? Simply hilarious that you overlook one's dementia and not the other's. Biden and Trump are both losing it.

[@sarinastrnad8795]

Kelly always talks like this. He takes his time answering a question because he’s intentional in everything he says. Please refrain from speaking to things you don’t know anything about

[@LMK-0975]

@sarinastrnad8795 He always talks like this???? YIKES!!!

[@steveschweitzer7116]

Not impressed with Kelly.

[@randywaterbury9893]

Kelly is a great coach and Wisconsin will always be a great team under his direction and that comes from a Husker fan.

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

@@randywaterbury9893 I'm not trying to start an argument, but I'm going to politely disagree. Kelly is a great evaluator of talent and a GOOD coach. He is definitely not great. "I think he's a pretty good coach, but I definitely wouldn't go so far as to call him great. For four years, Kelly had Dana Rettke and Devin Robinson at middle, Sydney Hilley at setter, Jade Demps, Grace Loberg, Danielle Hart and Smrek (for two) at outside, and Izzy Ashburn, Georgia Civita and Lauren Barnes as DSs. It was the best roster ever assembled based on how these girls are doing in pro leagues. The fact that Kelly led them to one championship is criminally poor coaching."

[@fb6031]

@@TheGrapeofWrath1 after 5 years in college finally they beat Nebraska with lower rank.😀

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

@@fb6031 I am a big believer that coaching and evaluating talent are two different things. And Kelly is great at finding talent, but average at coaching said talent.

[@sarinastrnad8795]

And who are you that we and Kelly should all care about your evaluation of Kelly that much?

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

When you have the better setter, you win the game. I'm glad we finally have that honor after all those years of Sydney Hilley clowning Nicklin Hames. Sorry, Charlie, but you're no Bergen Reilly.

[@FredGroenke55]

It seemed at times that the moment was too big for the freshman setter, but in her defense, it’s hard to set when you’re continually out-of-system.

[@cornymonkey]

Classic Wisconsin fan clowning the other team and their own player in a loss 😢 stay classy bud

[@scrub44]

the huskers defense was awesome.

[@TheGrapeofWrath1]

@@cornymonkey I'm a Nebraska fan. Read the post again.

[@cornymonkey]

@ nah I’m doubling down, you are a Wisconsin fan