For as many new faces as Wisconsin volleyball has in 2025, Kelly Sheffield’s peers still see the Badgers as a top-10 team.
For as many new faces as Wisconsin volleyball has in 2025, Kelly Sheffield’s peers still see the Badgers as a top-10 team.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association ranked the Badgers No. 8 in its 2025 preseason poll.
It’s not far off from where Wisconsin finished the 2024 season — No. 7 in the final AVCA poll — after losing to Nebraska in the NCAA regional finals. It is notably below last year’s preseason rank of No. 3 and UW’s 2023 preseason rank of No. 2, however.
The last time Wisconsin was not a top-5 team in the AVCA preseason poll was in 2018, when the Badgers began the season at No. 9. They ultimately finished third in the Big Ten that year and reached the NCAA regional finals before losing to Illinois.
The relatively lower preseason standing is not a surprise as the Badgers look to replace the production of several key players, including Sarah Franklin — the Big Ten’s player of the year in 2024 and the 2023 national player of the year. Key returning players include middle blocker Carter Booth and setter Charlie Fuerbringer. Newcomers include Oregon transfer Mimi Colyer and incoming freshmen Aniya Warren, Madison Quest and Natalie Wardlow.
Big Ten coaches picked the Badgers last month to finish third in the conference, trailing Nebraska and reigning national champion Penn State. Nebraska is No. 1 in the ACVA preseason poll, and Penn State is No. 2.
Wisconsin’s 2025 regular season will begin Aug. 29 against Kansas as part of the Opening Spike Classic at the Kohl Center. UW will have an intra-team scrimmage on Aug. 16, and it will host Notre Dame for an Aug. 17 exhibition.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin volleyball ranked No. 8 in 2025 AVCA preseason coaches poll
Category: General Sports
