Wisconsin volleyball lands near top of 2024 AVCA preseason top 25

The Wisconsin Badgers’ volleyball program earned the No. 3 spot in the 2024 Preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 rankings on Monday.

Two-time defending national champion Texas pocketed the No. 1 ranking while 2023 runner-up Nebraska followed at No. 2. Pittsburgh (No. 4), Stanford (No. 5), Louisville (No. 6), Penn State (No. 7), Purdue (No. 8), Kentucky (No. 9) and Oregon (No. 10) rounded out the top 10.

Captained by head coach Kelly Sheffield, the conductor of nine NCAA Elite Eight squads during his 11-year tenure, the Badgers enter this season after going 30-4 during their 2023 campaign.

With AVCA National Player of the Year, AVCA First-Team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year Sarah Franklin at outside hitter, the 2023 Badgers rattled off 18 consecutive wins to open their season before dropping a match to No. 2 Nebraska.

Wisconsin amassed a remarkable 17-0 record at home and 10-3 mark on the road before the 2023 NCAA Tournament. As one of its No. 1 seeds, UW advanced all the way to the Final Four before losing to eventual-champion Texas 3-1.

Nonetheless, Wisconsin enters this season as one of the most lethal contenders in the entire country. Alongside Franklin, part of that equation is the return of first-team All-Big Ten Carter Booth (middle blocker) and Anna Smrek (middle blocker and outside hitter). Fifth year middle blocker and 2022 AVCA Third-Team All-American Devyn Robinson will also make her return to Wisconsin.

Given the consistency with its nucleus, the Badgers know what it takes to win on a national scale. The crew begins its journey for another title with its opener against Bradley at home on Aug. 20.