6 things to know about Wisconsin volleyball before Big Ten play begins
The season ramps up in a huge way starting Friday, but here's what to know about the Badgers after nonconference play.
Kelly Sheffield’s not shy in saying how he’s seen his University of Wisconsin volleyball program improve before the meat of its 2025 schedule starts.
And how he predicted it.
No. 7 Wisconsin (7-1) has played four programs who were ranked at the time of those matches, going 3-1 in the process. Its lone loss came in a three-set sweep against Texas on Aug. 31, which is now No. 2 in the latest AVCA rankings, but the Badgers have rattled off six straight wins since.
Wisconsin swept five consecutive opponents and capped its nonconference slate with a thrilling four-set victory against now-No. 19 Florida at the Kohl Center on Sunday.
“I think anybody that’s watched us, and we’ve said that from the very beginning, I think this team is going to be really fun to watch grow,” Sheffield said Sunday after the win. “And I think every week, we’ve seen some growth from this group, and that’s what gets you excited as a competitor, that’s what gets you excited as a coach, is when you’re watching people grow and going through hard times together and embracing that.
“I was telling (Alicia) Andrew right before we were walking down there for this (press conference), I wish one time in my life I felt what those guys had to feel there in the fourth set. Just as an athlete, you’re just in there with your teammates, with your people, and you’re just grinding, and you’re having such an amazing atmosphere, and the crowd just with you. And the up and down, the Florida fans are standing up because they think they’re about ready to win it, and then our fans, and then just this seesaw thing. That’s why you play sports, is for matches like this, and we’re just really, really thankful that the fans came in here and they were riding along with us. And I think this is going to be a special year.”
Now Wisconsin turns its attention to another challenging Big Ten schedule that starts Friday when its hosts Rutgers inside the Field House (7 p.m. CT, B1G+) and a Sunday matinee at Iowa (2 p.m. CT, B1G+).
“We need them on Friday night,” Sheffield said. “We need that place packed. I don’t want to see a single seat open. We need them to come along for this journey and get that place cranking on Friday.”
Here are six thoughts about Wisconsin before conference play commences.
Transfers paying off in big way early
Wisconsin has continued to recruit well in the portal, and its reloading since the winter offseason has manifested into early success on the court despite the huge turnover on the roster.
Senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer (formerly of Oregon) has shined early on in leading the team in kills (139), while Andrew (Baylor) is first in sets played (27) and hitting percentage (.494) amongst Wisconsin’s consistent contributors. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Grace Egan (Ohio State) is second on the team in kills (71) and service aces (nine), and Sheffield said earlier this month that Egan has “the quickest arm” he’s ever seen.