Wisconsin's defending national championship volleyball team basked in spotlight of Big Ten media day. Here is what we learned.
CHICAGO – The coaches in the Big Ten had their say Monday when the conference announced the Wisconsin volleyball team as the favorite to win its fourth straight title.
Tuesday, the Badgers had their turn.
UW coach Kelly Sheffield and sophomores Anna Smrek and Sarah Franklin represented the program during the final day of Big Ten media days at the Big Ten Network studios.
The event marked the unofficial start of the season. The campaign also marks the first time in a few years the team will not be anchored by the talent of Dana Rettke, Sydney Hilley, Lauren Barnes and Grace Loberg, sixth-year seniors who made the most of their extra year by leading the program to the national title.
The 2022 Badgers will feature five newcomers plus a potential sixth who has yet to be added to the official roster that has some potential game-changers.
“It's a new team," Sheffield said. "It's a new journey, new leadership."
Bolstered by transfers Sarah Franklin (Michigan State) and CCrawford (Kansas State), the Badgers have a chance to meet the lofty expectations placed upon them. The continued development of holdovers Anna Smrek, Devyn Robinson and return to health of Danielle Hart will be key as well.
Maybe the new-look Badgers will give their fans even more satisfying results. Here is what we learned Tuesday as the squad heads into the start of practice next week.
Newcomers Sarah Franklin, Christina Crawford join Anna Smrek, Devyn Robinson, Danielle Hart
Chemistry is always important, but that will always be a question when a team replaces three players — Hilley, Rettke and Loberg — who played at least 135 matches during their career and another (Barnes) who played all but one the past three seasons after transferring from Minnesota.
Smrek, a middle blocker who was the most valuable player of the NCAA championship, Robinson, a middle blocker/right-side hitter who is a two-time all-Big Ten performer, and Hart are three of the team's most accomplished returners.
Some of the newcomers are proven, too. Franklin was a first-team all-Big Ten player at Michigan State last season while Crawford was a second-team selection in the Big 12. Libero Shanel Bramschreiber committed to UW in June as a graduate transfer, but Sheffield said Tuesday she has yet to gain eligibility. She was the Big 12 libero of the year in 2020.
The combination of newcomer and returning veteran, Franklin and Smrek in particular, could be devastating.
“I love the fact that our players and our captains are doing a great job of putting their arms around these transfers and embracing them and seeing (them) as people that can continue to help elevate us … There hasn't been any friction, from what I've seen,” Sheffield said.
Izzy Ashburn, MJ Hammill take over setter role
Thanks to the play of Hilley and Lauren Carlini, the Badgers' play at setter has been stellar during Sheffield’s nine seasons.
The torch will be carried this year by senior Izzy Ashburn and junior MJ Hammill. The two split time at the position during the spring exhibition season and both have earned enough respect in the program to be named co-captains along with Hart.
“They're not trying to be Sydney Hilley just like Sydney Hilley wasn't trying to be Lauren Carlini,” Sheffield said. “But they believe in themselves, and I don't know what we're going to do yet, whether we run a 5-1 or a 6-2. That's one of the things that has me so excited about starting practice here in a week, there's a lot of questions. And I know these guys are champing at the bit to get started.”
Hart's return from ACL injury a major boost
Wisconsin won the national title last season despite losing Hart to an ACL tear early in the season. She is on track to play this season. A second-team all-Big Ten pick in 2019 and '20, her presence to the floor this year provide a major lift.
"I think (at) the beginning of last year I think she was playing about as well as any middle in the country,” Sheffield said. “We're really fired up that she decided to come back. She wasn't planning on doing this. She thought that last year was going to be her last year. She's coming back.”
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What we learned about Wisconsin volleyball from Big Ten media day
