(From Left) Devyn Robinson, Sarah Franklin and Kelly Sheffield address reporters at the B1G Volleyball media days.
The Wisconsin Women’s Volleyball team spoke on the 2024 season ahead at the Big Ten Volleyball Media Day in Chicago on Monday.
Head Coach Kelly Sheffield, AVCA National Player of the Year Sarah Franklin and 5th year middle blocker Devyn Robinson made themselves available to the press following a 30-4 season where they logged another Final Four appearance.
In an interview following the Badgers’ press conference, Sheffield explained that while he appreciates the run his team went on next year, there’s a sense of unfinished business for the 2021 National Champions.
“We had a good year, a very very good year, that was short of being epic,” Sheffield, who has amassed a 292-61 record in the cardinal red, said. “At the end of the day, Nebraska takes home the Big Ten trophy and Texas takes home the National Championship trophy.”
Wisconsin is the only program in all of college volleyball to finish each of the last five years ranked as a top five team.
On top of this being a new year, the Big Ten welcomes four new teams in Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington.
All four of those squads had a record above .500 in 2023 and present a new challenge in a conference that’s now made up of 18 teams.
“There have been 12 teams that have ever won a national championship in our sport,” Sheffield said. “Three of the four teams that are coming in are three of those 12 teams.”
USC, UCLA and Washington all have national titles.
Wisconsin is the most recent Big Ten team to win the national title, as they took down Nebraska 3-2 three seasons ago.
The Badgers also led the entire nation in blocks per set (3.07) last year. Wisconsin opens the season against Louisville on Aug. 27 with match time set for 8:30 p.m.
1430 ESPN Beaver Dam is the home to Badgers Women’s Volleyball for the 2024 season.
Listen to the full interview with Coach Sheffield below.
