Wisconsin Volleyball slides in AVCA Ranking after poor start to season

Following its 0-3 start to the 2024 season, Wisconsin’s volleyball team slid down to No. 6 on the latest installation of the AVCA rankings.

Wisconsin, who finished its 2023 campaign with a 30-4 overall mark, entered this season ranked No. 3 spot in the 2024 Preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association in late August.

Losses to No. 6 Louisville, No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Stanford, have prompted voters to alter UW’s position in the national hierarchy.

2022 and 2023 national champion Texas earned the No. 1 spot, followed by No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Louisville and No. 5 Stanford. The Badgers landed just above No. 7 Penn State and No. 8 Purdue, a pair of Big Ten rivals unaccustomed to being in UW’s volleyball stratosphere.

Wisconsin’s most recent defeat arrived at Fiserv Forum against the Cardinal on Sept. 2. After dropping its first set 26-24, the Badgers rallied back to take the second 25-18. Stanford ultimately prevailed, however, with a 25-22 triumph in the third and final set.

The start to the season serves as a wake up call for a team that suffered its first loss of the 2023 season on Oct. 21 against the Cornhuskers. The Badgers had rattled off 18 consecutive victories to begin their season, so this is uncharted territory for a Kelly Sheffield-led club.

Superstar Sarah Franklin currently leads all Badgers with 63.5 points and 60 kills in 12 sets played. UW will look to return to the win column against Texas Christian University in Waco, Texas on Sept. 6.