Wisconsin Badgers women's volleyball is the team representing the University of WisconsinâÂÂMadison in NCAA Division I women's volleyball. The university has a rich volleyball tradition, with origins dating back to 1974. They won a national title in 2021. They have had eleven head coaches since the team's inception. In the 2021 season, they ranked second in attendance among all Division I volleyball programs, averaging 7,540 fans over 15 regular season matches.
The Badgers have reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament 16 times.
Under coach John Cook, the Badgers achieved a 30âÂÂ3 overall record, which was the best record since the team's inception (until they reached 31âÂÂ3 in 2021), the team had a bye to the second round, where they beat Central Florida 3âÂÂ0, and in the Sweet Sixteen, the team beat Notre Dame 3âÂÂ1. The team lost to Florida 3âÂÂ2 in the Elite Eight.
The Badgers' overall record was 30âÂÂ5, and reached the Elite Eight. The Badgers beat Arkansas-Little Rock 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, San Diego 3âÂÂ0 in the second round, and UCSB 3âÂÂ2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The team lost to Nebraska 3âÂÂ2 in the Elite Eight.
The Badgers, under head coach Pete Waite, reached the NCAA national final, finishing with an overall record of 33âÂÂ4. The 7-seed Badgers defeated Bucknell 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, Northern Iowa 3âÂÂ1 in the second round, Kansas State 3âÂÂ1 in the Sweet Sixteen, 15-seed UCLA 3âÂÂ1 in the Elite Eight, and 3-seed USC 3âÂÂ0 in the Final Four. The team fell just short of a national championship, falling to 1-seed Nebraska 3âÂÂ2. The Nebraska side was coached by former Badgers head coach John Cook. Both Lizzy Fitzgerald and Sherisa Livingston made the Final Four All-Tournament team.
Following 2 consecutive second-round losses, the team found themselves in the Elite Eight again, finishing with an overall record of 22âÂÂ10. The 14-seed Badgers defeated Loyola 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, Notre Dame 3âÂÂ0 in the second round, and 3-seed Hawaii 3âÂÂ2 in the Sweet Sixteen, before being shut out by Stanford in the Elite Eight.
The following year, the team made the Elite Eight again, finishing with an overall record of 26âÂÂ7. The 11-seed Badgers defeated Loyola 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, California 3âÂÂ0 in the second round, and 6-seed Notre Dame 3âÂÂ2 in the Sweet Sixteen, before being knocked out by 3-seed and eventual champion Washington 3âÂÂ0 in the Elite Eight.
Following a disappointing period (2008âÂÂ2012) under Waite, head coach Kelly Sheffield, the former head coach of Albany and Dayton, was hired. In Sheffield's first season, the Badgers went 28âÂÂ10. The 12-seed Badgers defeated Milwaukee 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, California 3âÂÂ0 in the second round, Florida State 3âÂÂ1 in the Sweet Sixteen, and Purdue 3âÂÂ1 in the Elite Eight. The team then became the lowest-seeded team to advance to the championship match, upsetting 1-seed Texas 3âÂÂ1 in the Final Four. The "Cinderella" story, however, came to an end after being defeated by 2-seed Penn State in the championship. Deme Morales and Lauren Carlini made the Final Four All-Tournament team.
The following year, the team went 31âÂÂ3, the best record the team had ever achieved up to this point. Entering the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers were seeded fourth. The Badgers defeated Western Michigan 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, Illinois State 3âÂÂ0 in the second round, and Ohio State 3âÂÂ2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The Badgers were beaten, however, by 5-seed Penn State in the Elite Eight. Penn State would go on to win the tournament.
The team went 28âÂÂ5, earning themselves a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers defeated Howard 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, Washington State 3âÂÂ0 in the second round, and Ohio State 3âÂÂ2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The team lost to 6-seed Stanford, the eventual winners, with a score of 3âÂÂ2.
Following a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017, the Badgers reached the Elite Eight once again in 2018. Following an overall record of 25âÂÂ7, the 6-seed Badgers beat Green Bay 3âÂÂ0 in the first round, Pepperdine 3âÂÂ1 in the second round, and San Diego 3âÂÂ0 in the Sweet Sixteen. The team lost to 3-seed Illinois 3âÂÂ1 in the Elite Eight.
The 2019 Badgers finished the season 27âÂÂ7, and earned the fourth overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin swept Illinois State, UCLA, 13th seeded Texas A&M, and fifth seeded Nebraska to reach the Final-4. The Badgers defeated top seeded Baylor 3âÂÂ1 in its third Final-4 appearance. In the NCAA Championship, Wisconsin fell to third seeded Stanford 3âÂÂ0.
In a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic and played in Spring 2021, the Badgers finished the season 18âÂÂ1, and earned the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin swept Weber State, & 16th seeded BYU, before defeating eighth seeded Florida 3âÂÂ2 in the Elite Eight. In their fourth NCAA Final-4 appearance, Wisconsin fell to fourth seeded Texas 3âÂÂ0.
The Badgers finished 31âÂÂ3 on the season. Ranked #1 in the Big Ten conference, the Badgers carried a #4 ranking into the tournament.
The Badgers swept their way to the Final Four, defeating Colgate, Florida Gulf Coast, #13 UCLA, and #12 Minnesota.
Semifinal Round: The Badgers were able to take down the previously unbeaten #1 seed Louisville in the semi-final round of the tournament in a 5 set match.
Championship Round: The Badgers pulled off the championship victory in a five-set thriller over #10 Nebraska. As a team, the Badgers posted 24 blocks, the most in a national championship. Rettke notched 11 kills and 13 blocks, while freshman Anna Smrek led offensively with 14 kills on .429 hitting, Jade Demps had 12 kills on .396 hitting, and Grace Loberg finished off her career with 10 kills. Sydney Hilley dished out 51 assists. Referencing: Michella Chester, NCAA reporting 12/18/2021
The Badgers finished the season 28âÂÂ4, and earned the 3rd overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Quinnipiac, and TCU to advance to the Regionals for the 10th consecutive year. The Badgers defeated (4) Penn State 3âÂÂ2 in the Sweet Sixteen, before falling to (2) Pitt 3âÂÂ2 in the Elite Eight.
Wisconsin finished the season 30âÂÂ4, and earned the 3rd overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Jackson State, and Miami(FL) to advance to the Regionals for the 11th consecutive year. The Badgers defeated (5) Penn State 3âÂÂ1 in the Sweet Sixteen, and (2) Oregon 3âÂÂ1 in the Elite 8. The Badgers advanced to its 6th Final 4 appearance where it fell to (2) Texas 3âÂÂ1.
Wisconsin finished the season 26âÂÂ7, and earned the 7th overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Fairfield, before knocking off Georgia Tech 3âÂÂ1 to advance to the Regionals for the 12th consecutive year. The Badgers defeated Texas A&M 3âÂÂ2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The season came to an end in the Elite Eight with the Badgers falling 3âÂÂ0 to the 2nd overall seed, Nebraska.
Wisconsin finished the season 28-5, and earned the 11th overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers swept Eastern Illinois and North Carolina to advance to the Regionals for the 13th consecutive year. The Badgers defeated (2) Stanford 3-1 in the Sweet Sixteen, Wisconsin's first win over the Cardinal in program history. In the Elite Eight, the Badgers defeated (1) Texas 3-1 in Austin. The Badgers advanced to its 7th Final 4 appearance where it fell to (1) Kentucky 3-2.
In all, Wisconsin has 30 total AVCA All-Americans, including six first team All-Americans. Among these five, Dana Rettke is the nation's only ever five-time first team All-American, largely due to the NCAA's decision not to count the 2020âÂÂ21 school year, heavily disrupted by COVID-19, against the college eligibility of any women's volleyball player. <br /> <big>*</big> denotes Big Ten Player of the Year <br /> <big>^</big> denotes AVCA National Player of the Year