MADISON, Wis. – While the Wisconsin volleyball team is set to take on Texas Thursday in the national semifinals in Tampa, Florida, the rematch has already been scheduled. In partnership with Intersport and FOX, the Badgers will take on the Longhorns and Stanford as part of an early season showcase event on Sept. 1-2 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
On Sept. 1, the inaugural showcase will see Wisconsin battle Texas while Stanford faces Minnesota. Then on the following day, the Badgers will challenge Stanford and Texas plays Minnesota. Two of the four matches will be broadcast on FOX while the remaining two will air on FS1.
“This is going to be an awesome event,” Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “Big-time teams on a big-time stage. The 2024 volleyball season is going to be shot out of a cannon!”
Wisconsin (30-3) earned a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and has advanced to the national semifinals for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
The Badgers will be making their second trip to Fiserv Forum in as many years after claiming a 3-1 win over Marquette on Sept. 13. That historic match was played in front of 17,037 fans, setting the indoor volleyball attendance record.
“There is an obvious growing appetite for the sport of volleyball, evidenced by roaring attendance numbers and record-breaking television ratings. It will be an incredible sight to help further amplify the sport with an elite early season showcase on network television,” said Mark Starsiak, vice president at Intersport. “We’re fortunate to have an eager partner in FOX, four immensely talented programs with passionate fan bases, a world-class host venue in Fiserv Forum and the support of the American Volleyball Coaches Association to carve an incredible foundation for this event that we envision as a staple on the college volleyball calendar for years to come.”
Wisconsin is 4-4 all-time against Texas, winning each of the last three meetings, including a victory in the 2013 national semifinal. UW also claimed non-conference wins over the Longhorns in 2016 and 2018. The Badgers will be looking for their first-ever win against Stanford, owning an 0-5 mark all-time.
Earlier this year, FOX made history when it aired women’s college volleyball on network television for the first time. On Oct. 29, FOX televised a pair of regional matchups, including a…
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