MADISON, WI (SPECTRUM NEWS) — Kelly Sheffield sat with Dana Rettke and watched as Four volleyball teams competed to be named the national champion in Minneapolis. They sat in the stands, after falling one game short of being on the court themselves just one week before.

The Wisconsin Badgers lost to Illinois in the 2018 regional final — or Elite Eight — in Champaign, IL. Rettke was in Minneapolis being recognized as a First-Team All-American.

Watching other teams — some former competitors — playing for the championship wasn't new for Rettke at the time, she was in Kansas City, MO in 2017 when she was also named as First-Team All-American as a Freshman.

This year she will be at the awards ceremony again, but she'll also be on the court as the Final Four takes place in Pittsburg, PA this week. Rettke and the Badgers advanced to the Final Four for the third time in program history after winning a regional on their home court on Saturday.

“I got a text from (Rettke) the other night that said I'm so happy to be going to the Final Four and not have to sit in the stands with you,” Sheffield laughed.

Wisconsin swept Nebraska 3-0 on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd in Madison. Sheffield and Rettke watched the Huskers in those Final Fours over the past two years as Nebraska won the championship in 2017 and were runner-ups in 2018.

As the score went final Saturday Rettke fell to her knees and clutched out for her teammates who gathered on the court to celebrate.

“That moment right there was just all the hard work you've put in all the hours, all the reps, everything kind of comes together in that moment, the good times and the bad times and you just have to embrace it,” Rettke said.

It was a moment that just about seven years ago didn't seem likely for Rettke.

“Absolutely not, when I first started playing volleyball I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to go to a big school because I started volleyball so late,” Rettke said.

The Riverside, IL native started playing volleyball as a Freshman in high school, well after many top recruits.

Sheffield said she wasn't on a major club team until about half-way through high school. They initially planned on redshirting Rettke so she could develop for a year before playing for the team.

“Instead she becomes a first team All-American and National Freshman of the Year,” Sheffield said. “So whatever that you're throwing at her she's going to grab on to and you know the improvement, I've never seen an athlete improve like she has.”

Sheffield and other coaches thought she had potential to be one of the nation's best players, but thought it would take time.

“It's a meteoric rise,” Sheffield said.

Rettke is still on the rise. In her first two collegiate seasons she's been a First-Team All-American, she's on track to do it a third time. She was Big 10 player of the year this season and has a chance to be named National Player of the Year. She trained and played with the United States National Team this summer.

Those are all part of her goals. However, Rettke said they aren't the most important thing to her.

“It keeps me on track of getting better every single practice,” Rettke said, with the ultimate goal of helping her team win.

Which brings her and her teammates to her most important goal: winning a National Championship.

“It's our goal every single season and it's really in reach right now,” Rettke said.

The reach for that trophy now just includes two games. The Badgers are in just their third Final Four ever and their first since 2013. They face top-ranked Baylor on Thursday in Pittsburg. The Badgers lost to the Bears in four-sets earlier in the season.

If Wisconsin beats Baylor they would face the winner of Minnesota and defending-champion Stanford.

Rettke credits her success to her teammates, many of which have impressive collegiate trophy cases themselves — including Big 10 setter of the year Sydney Hilley and fellow All-Big Ten first-team selection Grace Loberg.

However, Sheffield attributes a lot of the team's success to Rettke. He says most elite programs have someone that plays at a high level like Rettke.

“She carries a big load for it and handles it about as well as I think anybody possibly can,” Sheffield said.

Teammates like Molly Haggerty, junior outside hitter and NCAA Regional Tournament MVP, say Rettke makes things easier for them by drawing attention of the other team.

“For all of the recognition she gets she's so humble and she's really fun to play with,” Haggerty said.

Rettke credits her teammates for her success, saying they make things easier on her.

Whoever gets the credit the team knows they are close to achieving the sport's highest goal together. By the end of the weekend, they'll know if they captured Wisconsin's first-ever NCAA Volleyball Title.

“One inch closer to your dream is always something that you can celebrate,” Rettke said.