How 'a perfect storm' led Isabelle Hoppe to Wisconsin volleyball
A chat with one of the nation's top setters in the 2026 class about her journey to Madison.
Isabelle Hoppe’s no stranger to dishing out assists to her teammates.
But she received one herself from a random, serendipitous family connection on way to swiftly becoming the latest University of Wisconsin volleyball freshman signee.
Hoppe, one of the nation’s top setters in the 2026 class, had been a long-time commit to Pittsburgh and signed with the ACC school in November. But the Panthers’ signing of All-American transfer Izzy Starck, who has multiple years of eligibility remaining, led to a conversation with the Pitt staff and Hoppe’s subsequent release.
Circumstances were different from earlier in her recruiting journey, where according to Hoppe, Wisconsin previously invited her to a camp. But coach Kelly Sheffield and the Badgers had setters for back-to-back classes in Charlie Fuerbringer (2024) and Addy Horner (2025). That’s no longer the case as Horner entered the transfer portal after her freshman season and committed to Texas Christian earlier this month.
Hoppe credited one of her father’s high school friends, who’s also one of Sheffield’s neighbors, for getting in contact with the Wisconsin coach.
A really quick turnaround ensued.
“I asked to be released, and then I committed to (Wisconsin) that day,” Hoppe said. “So it was in a matter of hours, actually.”
