MADISON, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) --- The Green Bay volleyball team concluded a successful season this evening in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament against the #6 Wisconsin Badgers, falling in three sets despite a thrillingly tight second game. The Phoenix finish the season at 20-11, following their first-ever Horizon League regular season championship and first berth to the NCAA Tournament since 2003.
 
"You know it's a successful season when a team has reached their potential and you don't want it to end," said head coach Abbey Sutherland. "We have done both. Our group has made this season an incredible journey of growth, grit, and positivity. We often say, "breathe, believe, and battle." I am proud of our fight tonight against a top team in the country."
 
Green Bay was neck-and-neck with Wisconsin in the first set (9-25), tying the game at four points apiece before the Badgers took 21 of the next 26 points. Instead of being discouraged, the Phoenix answered by opening the second set with a 5-0 run, forcing a Wisconsin timeout. The team continued to fight throughout the game, even out-blocking the towering Badgers four to three. Green Bay claimed set point twice before their opponents managed to pull off the win, 27-25.
 
Wisconsin pulled off a sizable lead early in the final set (15-25), with Green Bay never being able to come within five points of their in-state foes. The Badgers weren't able to completely snuff out the Phoenix, however, as the teams traded nearly every point starting when Green Bay was behind 3-9 and ending when the Phoenix were down 11-16. A 4-0 run by Wisconsin sealed the outcome.
 
Freshman Alexandra Zakutney had quite the evening, tying her career-high kills for three sets with 13 and leading the team by far in the process. Senior Jessica Wolf added six kills of her own, as well as three blocks at the net. Also attributing to the team's blocking total was sophomore Ashley Sledge, collecting four throughout the night by helping with nearly every stop.
 
The defense was all over the court, with three players making it into the double-digits for digs. Senior Austyn Everingham was a force during the first two sets, scooping up 10 of her 11 total, while classmate Vanessa Buman held down the fort in the last set by picking up 11 of her 20. Sophomore Taylor Wolf was consistent in the back line during the entire match, also amassing 11 digs.

The program waves farewell to three standout seniors: Vanessa Buman, Austyn Everingham, and Jessica Wolf. As a class, the group won 75 matches, earning several league awards in the process. Those include Buman's Defensive Player of the Year award, Everingham's All-Academic Team honors, and Wolf's All-Tournament Team recognition, all occuring during this season.
 
Buman collected an impressive 1,481 digs in her four years, moving her into fifth or all-time digs. Her career average of 4.13 digs per set also places her fourth in those standings, helped by her last two strong seasons as an upperclassman.
 
Everingham will cement her place in the record books by playing in 452 sets throughout her entire career, the fourth-most out of any player in program history. She will also end as the number seven player for all-time digs, finishing her career with 1,366 total.
 
J. Wolf executed 1,071 kills as a Phoenix, taking over the fourth-place spot for most kills in a career and eighth-place spot for most points during her time. Despite missing several matches in the beginning of this season, these stats further highlight her significance to the team.
 
"When the seniors set goals at the beginning of season, they said that they wanted to leave a legacy," added Sutherland. "Austyn, Jessica, and Vanessa have left a special stamp on this program and we are so grateful for the heart, hard work, and dedication that they brought to our program."

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