Tag: wisconsin volleyball

Wisconsin volleyball’s win over Nebraska was most-watched game of the season

The Badgers’ win over Nebraska was the most-watched game of the volleyball season

The No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers came to play last week when No. 1 Nebraska visited the UW Field House.

The Badgers took care of the Cornhuskers in three straight sets, and jumped up to No. 3 in the country as a result of their dominant win.

The Big Ten Network broadcasted the match, and announced that it was the most-watched volleyball game across all networks this season. The gamed drew 362,000 viewers, and added to Wisconsin’s records this year. The Badgers already set the NCAA volleyball attendance record in their Kohl Center matchup against Florida earlier this year.

The Big Ten continues to dominate the sport:

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

LOOK: Wisconsin volleyball sells out the Kohl Center!

The Badgers sell out the Kohl Center!

The Badgers are looking to make history on Friday night at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin volleyball will be playing its first match in the venue, and tickets are officially sold out.

The Badgers face off with the Florida Gators in a Top 25 matchup in Madison, with first serve scheduled for 7:30 PM CT on the Big Ten Network. According to Wisconsin, the Badgers are expecting to break the NCAA Volleyball attendance record with the Friday night crowd. Let’s not forget to mention that the Badgers moved the 2021 NCAA championship banner into the Kohl Center for tonight’s festivities.

Expect the Kohl Center to be rocking tonight:

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:

See Where Wisconsin Women’s Volleyball Lands in Preseason Power 10 Rankings

Wisconsin women’s volleyball cracks the preseason Power 10 rankings:

On Tuesday, Michella Chester, who reports for NCAA Digital and Turner Sports, released her first Power 10 rankings for the upcoming 2022-23 volleyball season.

One day after league coaches picked Wisconsin to win their fourth straight Big Ten title, the defending national champions came in at No.4 on Chester’s preseason Power 10 list.

UW was one of four Big Ten teams to appear in the preseason Power 10 rankings, joined by Nebraska (1), Ohio State (5), and Minnesota (7), respectively.

Coach Sheffield had three players named to the preseason all-conference team: Sarah Franklin (transfer), Anna Smrek, and Devyn Robinson, who will lead a retooled Badgers team. in 2022.

You can watch the rest of Chester’s rankings followed by her analysis in the video below:

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

Kelly Sheffield earns a contract extension after historic Wisconsin volleyball season

Wisconsin’s volleyball coach earns a contract extension

Wisconsin volleyball made their third Final Four in as many years during their 2021 NCAA Tournament run. The difference this time? They finished the job with a national championship.

Wisconsin head volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield was recently given a contract extension after the UW Board approved the new deal on Friday. It has been a remarkable nine years for Sheffield at the helm of Wisconsin volleyball, culminating in the 2021 national championship run. Over those nine years, the Badgers have gone 236-53, and will look to defend their national title in front of an enthusiastic UW Field House crowd next season.

His five-year agreement was extended through January 31, 2027.

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.

How to watch Wisconsin volleyball’s NCAA Regional Semifinal vs. UCLA

The Badgers continue their NCAA Tournament journey on Thursday

The No. 4 overall seeded Wisconsin Badgers rolled into the NCAA Regional Semifinal with back-to-back sweeps to begin their NCAA Tournament journey.

Wisconsin gets to stay home at the UW Field House on Thursday when the UCLA Bruins come to town. The Bruins won their first two matches at home before traveling to Madison.

Wisconsin and UCLA are set to do battle at 4 p.m. CT, and ESPNU will have the action live from the UW Field House.

If the Badgers come out on top, the Regional Final is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. CT against the winner of No. 5 Baylor and No. 12 Minnesota.

Wisconsin volleyball advances to the Sweet 16 with a 3-0 win over FGCU

The Badgers are headed to the Sweet 16

Behind another packed UW Field House crowd, Wisconsin rolled over Florida Gulf Coast in.a 3-0 sweep of the Eagles.

The Badgers were unbelievably efficient as they hit .455 on the evening to advance to the Sweet 16. Wisconsin has now yet to drop a set through two NCAA Tournament matches.

It was a balanced Wisconsin effort as super senior Grace Loberg led the way by hitting .542 on the evening. Lauren Barnes was fantastic defensively, as the libero recorded 18 digs.

The No. 4 Badgers get the privilege of staying home for their Sweet 16 matchup as they await the winner of No. 13 UCLA and UCF in a second round matchup.