A History of Excellence: Wisconsin Badgers Women's Volleyball
The Wisconsin Badgers women's volleyball team represents the University of Wisconsin-Madison in NCAA Division I women's volleyball. The program boasts a storied history, marked by impressive achievements, exceptional players, and a passionate fan base. From its humble beginnings to its national championship victory, the Badgers have solidified their place as a powerhouse in collegiate volleyball.
The Early Years and Rise to Prominence
The Wisconsin Badgers women's volleyball program began in 1974, soon after the formation of the Big Ten Conference’s women's sports division. The early years saw the program establishing itself as a competitive force within the Big Ten Conference. By the late 1980s, Wisconsin women's volleyball had established itself as a competitive force in the Big Ten with leadership from coaches Niels Pedersen and Russ Carney. The program reached a turning point in 1990, under coach Steve Lowe when they made their first NCAA Tournament appearance. This set the stage for greater achievements in the rest of the 90s and the 2000s.
Under the leadership of head coaches like John Cook and Pete Waite, the Badgers continued to improve. In 2000, the Badgers reached the NCAA semifinals for the first time. The Badgers, under head coach Pete Waite, reached the NCAA national final, finishing with an overall record of 33-4. The 7-seed Badgers defeated Bucknell 3-0 in the first round, Northern Iowa 3-1 in the second round, Kansas State 3-1 in the Sweet Sixteen, 15-seed UCLA 3-1 in the Elite Eight, and 3-seed USC 3-0 in the Final Four. The team fell just short of a national championship, falling to 1-seed Nebraska 3-2. The Nebraska side was coached by former Badgers head coach John Cook.
The Sheffield Era and a National Title
In 2012, Kelly Sheffield took over as head coach, bringing a new era of success. Following a disappointing period (2008-2012) under Waite, head coach Kelly Sheffield, the former head coach of Albany and Dayton, was hired. Under his guidance, the Badgers have become a regular contender for national titles. Sheffield's coaching style fosters a strong team culture and player development. Combined with the recruitment of top high school talent, Wisconsin is now one of the top destinations for aspiring volleyball players.
In Sheffield's first season, the Badgers went 28-10. The 12-seed Badgers defeated Milwaukee 3-0 in the first round, California 3-0 in the second round, Florida State 3-1 in the Sweet Sixteen, and Purdue 3-1 in the Elite Eight. The team then became the lowest-seeded team to advance to the championship match, upsetting 1-seed Texas 3-1 in the Final Four. The "Cinderella" story, however, came to an end after being defeated by 2-seed Penn State in the championship. The following year, the team went 31-3, the best record the team had ever achieved up to this point. Entering the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers were seeded fourth. The Badgers defeated Western Michigan 3-0 in the first round, Illinois State 3-0 in the second round, and Ohio State 3-2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The Badgers were beaten, however, by 5-seed Penn State in the Elite Eight.
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The 2021 season marked the pinnacle of the program's success, with the Badgers earning their first-ever NCAA Championship after defeating Nebraska in an epic five-set match. The victory put Wisconsin in the national spotlight and cemented its status as a modern volleyball authority. Championship Round: The Badgers pulled off the championship victory in a five-set thriller over #10 Nebraska. As a team, the Badgers posted 24 blocks, the most in a national championship. Rettke notched 11 kills and 13 blocks, while freshman Anna Smrek led offensively with 14 kills on .429 hitting, Jade Demps had 12 kills on .396 hitting, and Grace Loberg finished off her career with 10 kills. Sydney Hilley dished out 51 assists.
Memorable Seasons and Tournament Runs
The Badgers have consistently demonstrated their prowess on the court, securing numerous NCAA Tournament appearances and achieving remarkable milestones.
- 1990: First NCAA Tournament Appearance & Big Ten Conference Title: The Badgers made their debut in the NCAA Tournament in 1990, after securing their first Big Ten conference title. Although they didn’t go far that year (they were eliminated in the regional semifinals), it was a foundational moment for the program, laying the groundwork for future success.
- 2000: National Championship Runner-Up Finish: In 2000, the Badgers reached the NCAA Championship match for the first time. They faced off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a hard-fought battle but ultimately fell short. Despite the loss, the season was a turning point, proving that Wisconsin could compete with the best in the nation.
- 2006: Under coach John Cook, the Badgers achieved a 30-3 overall record, which was the best record since the team's inception (until they reached 31-3 in 2021), the team had a bye to the second round, where they beat Central Florida 3-0, and in the Sweet Sixteen, the team beat Notre Dame 3-1. The Badgers' overall record was 30-5, and reached the Elite Eight. The Badgers beat Arkansas-Little Rock 3-0 in the first round, San Diego 3-0 in the second round, and UCSB 3-2 in the Sweet Sixteen.
- 2013: The team went 28-5, earning themselves a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers defeated Howard 3-0 in the first round, Washington State 3-0 in the second round, and Ohio State 3-2 in the Sweet Sixteen.
- 2017: Following a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017.
- 2018: Following a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017, the Badgers reached the Elite Eight once again in 2018. Following an overall record of 25-7, the 6-seed Badgers beat Green Bay 3-0 in the first round, Pepperdine 3-1 in the second round, and San Diego 3-0 in the Sweet Sixteen.
- 2019: The 2019 Badgers finished the season 27-7, and earned the fourth overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin swept Illinois State, UCLA, 13th seeded Texas A&M, and fifth seeded Nebraska to reach the Final-4. The Badgers defeated top seeded Baylor 3-1 in its third Final-4 appearance.
- Spring 2021: In a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic and played in Spring 2021, the Badgers finished the season 18-1, and earned the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin swept Weber State, & 16th seeded BYU, before defeating eighth seeded Florida 3-2 in the Elite Eight. The Badgers finished 31-3 on the season.
- 2021: National Championship Victory: The pinnacle of the program’s history came in 2021 when the Badgers captured their first-ever NCAA Championship. In a thrilling five-set match against their previous defeaters, Nebraska, Wisconsin battled through every point with Dana Rettke and Anna Smrek delivering clutch performances. The victory was the culmination of years of hard work and caused celebrations in Madison and across Wisconsin.
- 2022: The Badgers finished the season 28-4, and earned the 3rd overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Quinnipiac, and TCU to advance to the Regionals for the 10th consecutive year.
- 2023: Wisconsin finished the season 30-4, and earned the 3rd overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Jackson State, and Miami(FL) to advance to the Regionals for the 11th consecutive year. The Badgers defeated (5) Penn State 3-1 in the Sweet Sixteen, and (2) Oregon 3-1 in the Elite 8.
- 2024: Wisconsin finished the season 26-7, and earned the 7th overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Fairfield, before knocking off Georgia Tech 3-1 to advance to the Regionals for the 12th consecutive year. The Badgers defeated Texas A&M 3-2 in the Sweet Sixteen.
- 2025: Wisconsin finished the season 28-5, and earned the 11th overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Eastern Illinois and North Carolina to advance to the Regionals for the 13th consecutive year. The Badgers defeated (2) Stanford 3-1 in the Sweet Sixteen, Wisconsin's first win over the Cardinal in program history. In the Elite Eight, the Badgers defeated (1) Texas 3-1 in Austin.
Standout Players: A Legacy of Excellence
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s volleyball team has had quite a few players who have earned recognition on a large scale, especially in the past few years. Here are some of the players who have helped the team find success and gain more renown.
- Sherisa Livingston: Opposite, 1998-2001: Sherisa Livingston is one of the greatest players in UW volleyball history. She was named a three-time member of the First-team All-Big Ten and two-time All-American, the first All-American to be named at UW (2000). That same year, she also helped lead the team to victory in the conference. Livingston was inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. Since then, she had played extensively in international professional leagues and got into the world of volleyball coaching in 2013.
- Lauren Carlini: Setter, 2013-2016: One of the most decorated players in program history, Carlini was a four-time first team All-American setter and earned the Big Ten Player of the Year award in 2014. Her expert skills and teamwork on the court helped propel the team to success, winning the Big Ten conference in 2014. After graduation, she has gone on to play internationally for Italy, Russia, and Türkiye. national team and even won silver in the 2024 Olympics.
- Dana Rettke: Middle blocker, 2017-2021: Standing at 6'8", Rettke became a dominant middle blocker for the UW Badgers volleyball team and one of the most feared players in the nation. She is the first and only player ever to be a five-time All-American pick. Rettke is also a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year. In addition to seeing three Big Ten conference wins with the team, she was also part of the first NCAA volleyball championship win for Wisconsin! national team (starting in 2019). She won a silver medal in the 2024 Olympics.
- Sydney Hilley: Setter, 2017-2021: A four-time All-American team member, Hilley’s leadership was a huge factor in Wisconsin's success, including multiple Big Ten titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. Her crowning achievement came in 2021 when she helped lead the Badgers to their first-ever NCAA Championship by setting up crucial plays in their dramatic five-set victory over Nebraska.
- Sarah Franklin: Outside Hitter, 2022-2024: This recent graduate transferred to UW from Michigan State after two years there. After beginning her strong volleyball career in Michigan, she continued to succeed as a member of the Badgers. In 2023, she was named both AVCA National Player of the Year and AVCA First-Team All-American. Her consistent contributions to the team and powerful hits made her a valuable teammate.
Rankings and Recognition
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s volleyball team has consistently been ranked among the top programs in NCAA women’s volleyball in the nation over the past decade. Now, they are a regular presence in the AVCA Coaches Poll, frequently landing in the top 10 and often in the top 5. Their success is due to a combination of factors, including strong coaching practices, elite recruiting, and a fierce competitive spirit.
In 2023, the Badgers were once again among the top-ranked teams throughout the season. They had a strong showing in the Big Ten Conference, finishing near the top of the standings and earning a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Although they did not win another conference or national title last year, their success in competing for high places in both tournaments shows their skills.
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The Future is Bright
Looking ahead, the Badgers are expected to remain a force to be reckoned with. Fans of collegiate women’s volleyball should keep their eyes out for the girls volleyball team this year! Their past few years have been quite fiery, so they’re bound to make some great plays and wins this season.
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