MADISON, Wis. – The Big Ten Conference announced its preseason poll and All-Conference accolades Friday, with the Wisconsin volleyball team leading the way. The Badgers look to make it five-consecutive Big Ten Championships this season as the team was selected as the favorite in the 2023 Big Ten Volleyball Preseason Poll. UW also features the most athletes of any school on the Preseason All-Conference Team: sophomore Carter Booth, redshirt junior Sarah Franklin, senior Devyn Robinson, and graduate student Temi Thomas-Ailara.
The Badgers tops the conference preseason ledger, followed by Nebraska, Minnesota, Penn State, and Purdue to round out the top five.
Wisconsin has won each of the last four Big Ten championships, most recently claiming the 2022 Big Ten title with a 28-4, 19-1 record. In ten seasons with the Badgers, head coach Kelly Sheffield has led UW to total of five Big Ten Championships, and is one of only three teams to advance to the Sweet 16 in the last 10 years in a row. In his ten seasons with Wisconsin, Sheffield has amassed a 262-57 (.821) overall record.
On the individual side, Wisconsin is the only school with four student-athletes on the Preseason All-Conference Team. All four Badgers, Booth, Franklin, Robinson and Thomas-Ailara were 2022 First Team All-Big Ten selections.
The Badgers open the season with an exhibition against the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) on Aug. 19 at the Field House. The regular season will begin at the 2023 Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge on Aug. 25 against Baylor.
PRESEASON POLL
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Penn State
5. Purdue
6. Ohio State
7. Illinois
8. Indiana
9. Maryland
T10. Michigan
T10. Northwestern
12. Michigan State
13. Iowa
14. Rutgers
PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Raina Terry, Sr., OH, Illinois
Camryn Haworth, Jr., S, Indiana
Taylor Landfair, Jr., OH, Minnesota
Kylie Murr, Sr., L, Minnesota
Melanie Shaffmaster, Sr., S, Minnesota
Lexi Rodriguez*, Jr., L/DS, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Sr., OPP, Ohio State
Rylee Rader, Sr., MB, Ohio State
Jess Mruzik, Sr., OH, Penn State
Mac Podraza*, Gr., S, Penn State
Eva Hudson*, So., OH, Purdue
Carter Booth, So., MB, Wisconsin
Sarah Franklin, R-Jr., OH, Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson, Sr., OPP, Wisconsin
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Gr., OH, Wisconsin
*Unanimous selection
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Wisconsin Badgers…