Tag: wisconsin badgers volleyball

Wisconsin volleyball earns a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament field

Wisconsin volleyball earns a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament field

Wisconsin volleyball ended another phenomenal regular season at 26-3 overall and 17-3 in the Big Ten, and with it earned the No. 3 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers are the No. 1 seed in their region, and will get tournament play started when they host Jackson State on Thursday. That match is set for 7:30 p.m. CT in Madison.

Wisconsin is joined by Nebraska, Stanford, and Pitt as the four number one seeds in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Badgers have Penn State and Purdue on their side of the bracket, representing a heavy Big Ten region. If Wisconsin gets past Jackson State, they would take on the winner of Miami and Northern Iowa in round two.

Where Wisconsin stands in the Big Ten volleyball preseason poll

Where do the defending champions stand this preseason?

The reigning NCAA national champions are looking to defend their crown as volleyball season quickly approaches.

For the first time in conference history, the Big Ten will be hosting Conference Volleyball Media Days, which will take place this week in Chicago.

The Big Ten begins play in late August, with matches scheduled to start on August 26-27.

The Badgers had three players named to the Big Ten preseason team, as outside hitter Sarah Franklin, middle blocker Devyn Robinson, and middle blocker Anna Smrek all earned the nod. Here is a look at the Big Ten volleyball preseason poll and where the national champions ended up:

Former Badger Dana Rettke wins Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year

Former Wisconsin volleyball legend Dana Rettke added to her highly decorated trophy case on Wednesday morning, as she was named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year:

Former Wisconsin volleyball legend, Dana Rettke, added to her highly decorated trophy case on Wednesday morning, as she was named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year.

Related: LOOK: Johnny Davis gets his Washington Wizards jersey number

The Wisconsin middle blocker first won the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year award in 2019 after leading the conference in blocks. It is not surprising to see Rettke win the prestigious award for the second time after she led the Badgers to a National Championship last season. The Riverside, Ill., native also set the Badgers’ career block record in 2021 en route to winning the AVCA National Player of the Year.

It is sad to see Rettke leaving Wisconsin, but I am excited to see her continue her dominance for her professional team in Italy and the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team.

Wisconsin volleyball set another record in their championship match

The Badgers set a different kind of record in their national championship match

Wisconsin volleyball set all sorts of firsts in their championship match against Nebraska, the most important of which being their first national championship in program history.

With two passionate Big Ten fan bases meeting at the summit, viewers were locked in as a champion was crowned. Wisconsin and Nebraska drew 1.19 million viewers in their five-set thriller on Saturday. That number has since been confirmed to be a collegiate volleyball record for viewers.

Nebraska area news anchor Bill Schammert of 1011 NOW provided some context to the numbers. Wisconsin’s national championship match against Stanford drew less than half of that total, while Stanford’s championship matchup with Nebraska did not reach 1 million viewers in 2018.

WATCH: Paul Chryst congratulates Wisconsin volleyball

The Badgers took home their first national championship

In his press conference earlier this week, Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst opened with a congratulatory message for Badger volleyball. Wisconsin volleyball took home their first national championship in program history this past weekend, as they defeated Nebraska in a five-set thriller.

After back-to-back years of heartbreak for a team that reached two consecutive Final Fours only to fall short, the Badger seniors put together one last magical ride. This time, it ended happily.

Chryst spoke on how impressed he has been watching Wisconsin volleyball’s commitment and work ethic. Here is Wisconsin’s football coach on the Badgers taking home a national championship:

How to watch Wisconsin volleyball in the Final Four

The Badgers are headed to the Final Four

After advancing through the Madison regional, Wisconsin volleyball is in their third straight Final Four. The Badgers have rolled through their competition, as they have yet to drop a set in the NCAA Tournament. The UW Field House regional culminated with a 3-0 Badgers sweep of Minnesota.

Wisconsin now travels to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio to take on Louisville. The Final Four match is set for December 16, with a start time of 6 p.m. CT. The matchup will be available on ESPN, and the local radio call will be on WIBA 1310 AM.

If the Badgers are able to beat undefeated Louisville, Wisconsin will play in the NCAA Championship match on December 18 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Wisconsin volleyball gets the No. 4 overall seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament

The Badgers earn a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament

Fresh off of a Big Ten championship, Wisconsin volleyball earned a top-four seed in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament bracket reveal.

With the No. 4 overall seed, Wisconsin will host the first round, second round, Sweet Sixteen, and Elite Eight matchups at the UW Field House.

In the first round, the Badgers will be matched up against the Colgate Raiders. Colgate went 13-3 in the Patriot League to take home a conference championship.

If all goes according to plan, Wisconsin can advance to the Final Four while playing every match in the comforts of their home gym.

Here is a look at the complete 2021 bracket:

WATCH: Wisconsin volleyball releases hype video ahead of Final Four matchup

Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup that will be broadcast on ESPN, the Badgers released a hype video featuring highlights from the B…

After what has been an amazing week, including beating the Florida Gators in the Elite Eight and the naming of six Badgers as All-Americans, Wisconsin volleyball will face the Texas Longhorns on Thursday night in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Related: How to watch Wisconsin volleyball in the Final Four

Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup, the Badgers released a hype video featuring highlights from the Badgers’ last matchup against the Gators. The clip features great blocks from seniors Molly Haggerty and Dana Rettke, as well as some outstanding digs from Giorgia Civita.

Six Wisconsin volleyball players named as All-Americans

Only two days after an electrifying victory over the Florida Gators in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Wiscons…

Only two days after an electrifying victory over the Florida Gators in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Wisconsin volleyball announced on their Twitter that six Badgers have been named All-Americans.

Related: How to watch Wisconsin volleyball in the Final Four

Those honored include seniors Dana Rettke, Sydney Hilley, Lauren Barnes, Molly Haggerty and Grace Loberg, as well as freshman right-side hitter Devyn Robinson. Dana Rettke was named a First Team All-American for the fourth time in her career and is the first player in Wisconsin program history to ever accomplish this feat. Rettke is one of only six players to ever be named as a four-time First Team All-American in the history of collegiate volleyball.

These honors represent just how special the Wisconsin volleyball team has been this season, both individually and as a team. The Badgers, led by six All-Americans, will face the Texas Longhorns on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CT in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Below are Wisconsin volleyball’s All-Americans from the 2021 season:

How to watch Wisconsin volleyball in the Elite Eight vs Florida

The Badgers move into the Elite Eight

The Wisconsin Badgers are the number one team in the country, and the undefeated Badgers cruised into the Elite Eight this past weekend with a 3-0 sweep of BYU.

The next Badger opponent is Florida, who dealt with Ohio State in the previous round.

Instead of ESPN3, Wisconsin’s Elite Eight contest will be on ESPNU with a scheduled start time of 5:30 CT. You can listen to the game on 1310 WIBA with Jon Arias on the play-by-play call.