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MADISON, Wis. – Head coach Kelly Sheffield announced the nine-match 2023 Wisconsin volleyball non-conference schedule on Monday. The Badgers play five matches against teams ranked in the top 25 of the final 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association coaches’ poll and eight matches against teams that participated in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin plays one of its toughest non-conference schedules with eight of nine matches against opponents that ranked in the top 60 of the final 2022 NCAA RPI.
“I like the schedule that is in front of us,” Sheffield said. “We will be playing teams with styles that are very different from each other. I can see every one of these teams in the NCAA tournament this year.”
Season opens with exhibition
Instead of the annual intrasquad scrimmage, the Badgers open the season with an exhibition match again UIC on Aug. 19. A recent NCAA rule change allows teams to compete against another Division I opponent in preseason exhibition play.
Wisconsin’s official season opener is Aug. 25-26 at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge in Minneapolis. UW and Minnesota represent the Big Ten Conference, facing No. 15 Baylor (25-7 in 2022) and TCU (17-11) from the Big 12 Conference, in back-to-back matches. The Bears were 2022 NCAA Sweet 16 participants while the Horned Frogs fell to Wisconsin in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Next, the Badgers travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for back-to-back matches against the Razorbacks (21-9) on Aug. 30 and Aug. 31. No. 25 Arkansas advanced to the second of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
“I like that we are adding a home exhibition match against another team instead of an intrasquad scrimmage then opening up the season on the road with two great programs in Baylor and TCU will be a challenge,” said Sheffield. “I also like the back-to-back matches against Arkansas. It’ll be interesting to see the adjustments made against a really good team from one night to the next.”
Three straight matches at home
Wisconsin opens its home season with three straight matches, beginning on Sept. 3. UW faces Tennessee (17-14) on Sept. 3 in the UW Field House. The Volunteers lost to Purdue, 3-2, in the first round…
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