MADISON, Wis. — The No. 6 Wisconsin volleyball team will travel to Waco, Texas for the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. Wisconsin will face off against TCU on Friday afternoon at 4 pm. The following night the Badgers are slated to play No. 23 Baylor at 7 pm. Both matches will be aired on ESPN+.
1. LAST TIME OUT: What everyone knew was going to be a difficult schedule to start the 2024 season, has proved to be just that, as the Badgers now stand at 0-3. After Louisville, the Badgers looked to improve, in a rematch of the National semifinal match from last December, against Texas. With almost the same script, UW fell in four sets to the Longhorns after a strong start, the Longhorns took over and dominated. The next day, Wisconsin hit .341 against No. 5 Stanford, but it still wasn’t enough. Stanford beat UW 3-1 at the State Farm Women’s College Volleyball Showcase.
2. NOT SO SECRET WEAPON: In three matches, outside hitter, Sarah Franklin has totaled 60 kills on 175 attempts, hitting .229. Franklin is averaging 5.0 kills/set and 5.29 points/set. The next closest is Devyn Robinson with 25 kills and 59 attempts.
3. TIME TO GROW: In its first three matches of the season, the Badgers have taken on the No. 6, 1 and 5 ranked teams in the country and have lost all three matches. The 0-3 marks the first time since 1990; however, despite the 0-3 start, Wisconsin earned its first Big Ten Title, and qualified for its first NCAA Tournament in 1990. UW finished 29-8, 16-2 (B1G) that season.
4. NEW KIDS SETTLING IN: Freshmen Charlie Fuerbringer, Trinity Shadd-Ceres and Lola Schumacher all saw the court as starters at some point over the weekend. In the match against Texas, Shadd-Ceres recorded six kills and three digs, while Fuerbringer set a career-high 43 assists. Schumacher added a team-high 16 digs.
5. SCOUTING THE HORNED FROGS: Wisconsin leads TCU 4-0 overall, all sweeps, with the most recent matchup coming last August in the Big Ten/Big 12 challenge. Outside hitter Melanie Parra was named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, Parra averaged 4.38 kills per set and earned unanimous First Team All-Big 12 honors and AVA Third team All-American honors. Her teammate Jaylyn Gibson was also named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team.
6. SCOUTING THE BEARS: Returning for Baylor for their senior seasons will be Lauren Briseño and…
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