A comeback incomplete.
Ohio State (14-15, 7-12 Big Ten) battled back from down two sets but ultimately fell to No. 7 Wisconsin (22-6, 16-3 Big Ten) in five Wednesday at UW Field House.
Early in the first set, the Buckeyes went on a 3-0 run to take an 8-7 lead thanks to a kill from outside hitter Emmi Sellman and an ace from Olivia Hasbrook.
A Badgers attack error and a kill from outside hitter Grace Egan helped the Buckeyes take a 15-11 lead.
Wisconsin battled back thanks to a 5-2 run, taking a one-point lead at 21-20.
Egan earned a kill to tie the set at 21 and middle blocker Eloise Brandewie got a block following a Badgers attack error, capping off a Buckeyes 3-0 run.
Following the timeout, Wisconsin scored four straight to take the first set 25-23.
The Badgers opened the second set with an early 7-3 lead, which extended to a 13-6 lead.
Kills from Brandewie and Londot helped the Buckeyes cut the lead to 14-9. Then, Wisconsin scored seven of the last 10 points to win the second set 25-14.
Rader got back-to-back kills to start the third set, helping the Buckeyes take a 5-2 lead. A few plays later, she got an ace, bringing the score to 7-3.
Later in the set, Rader and Egan got back-to-back kills to grow the Buckeyes lead to 14-9.
A pair of Brandewie and Sellman shared blocks helped the Buckeyes score five straight points, achieving their largest lead of the set at nine.
Wisconsin then went on an 8-3 run to cut its deficit to three, forcing the Buckeyes to call a timeout with a 23-20 lead.
A shared block from Rader and Londot helped Ohio State reach set point at 24-20, before a Badgers service error sealed the third set 25-21 for the Buckeyes.
In the fourth set, Brandewie ignited a Buckeyes 4-0 run with a block and kill to take an 11-9 lead.
Following three straight Wisconsin points, Sellman earned a kill to tie the set at 12. The Buckeyes then began to build their lead as kills from setter Mia Tuman, Egan and Rader helped Ohio State take a 15-13 lead.
Two Egan kills ignited a 4-0 run for the Buckeyes to take a 20-16 lead.
The Badgers then score five straight to take the lead back at 21-20 before Egan earned her career-high 18th kill to tie the match at 21.
Londot earned back-to-back kills to take a 25-24 lead, before a Wisconsin attack error closed the fourth set 26-24 Buckeyes.
The Badgers opened the fifth with a 9-5 lead, forcing an Ohio State timeout.
Rader got back-to-back kills to get within two points with a score of 12-10.
The Buckeyes, however, ultimately fell short as Wisconsin ended the game on a 3-2 run to win the set 15-12.
Ohio State will close out its regular season against No. 15 Minnesota 7 p.m. Friday in Minneapolis.