The Wisconsin Badgers' 2026 volleyball team was pushed to their limits in a thrilling preseason match against a team of notable alumni on Saturday, August 8, at the UW Field House. The alumni emerged victorious, winning 3-1 in a closely contested match.
The match was a special event for both the current team and the alumni, who got to relive their glory days in front of a packed and enthusiastic crowd. As head coach Kelly Sheffield noted, "How fun was that?" Sheffield praised the environment, saying it was one of the most enjoyable matches he'd been a part of. The current team showed great spirit in competing against the experienced alumni, but ultimately came up short.
The alumni team, led by Mimi Colyer and Sarah Franklin, dominated the first two sets, winning 25-21 and 25-23. However, the current team fought back in the third set, taking it 25-21. The fourth set was a nail-biter, with the alumni coming from behind to win 25-22 after overcoming a 4-0 deficit.
For Charlie Fuerbringer, who had 35 assists and eight digs in the match, it was a special experience to be part of the event. "I think it was a really good battle and both teams pushed each other," she said. Fuerbringer praised the fans, saying they showed up just as expected and responded well to the match.
Sydney Hilley, a former Badger, was also thrilled to be back in the UW Field House, playing in front of the enthusiastic crowd. "To come in here, in a packed house in the Field House and play in front of that environment with Wisconsin on my chest again is just surreal," she said.
The match was a great way for the current team to prepare for the upcoming season, and it showed that they have the potential to compete with the best. As Kelly Sheffield noted, the match was a great opportunity for both teams to test themselves and push each other to new heights.
The Badgers will now look to build on this momentum as they head into the regular season. Their next match is scheduled for [insert date], where they will face off against [insert opponent].
Source: Yahoo Sports