2017 NCAA Top 10 Countdown: No. 7 Wisconsin
For the first time in four years, Wisconsin is facing the NCAA volleyball season without all-star setter Lauren Carlini. Can freshman setter Sydney Hilley step up?
Last Season
28-5, 17-3 Big Ten Conference
NCAA Regional Finals (3-2 loss to Stanford)
13.45 assists/set (#15 in nation)
.268 team hitting percentage (#19 in nation)
14.23 kills/set (#20 in nation)
.848 winning percentage (#10 in nation)
The Players
Returning Stars
Kelli Bates | 5-foot-11 | Senior | Outside Hitter/Libero
M.E. Dodge | 5-10 | Sophomore | Libero
Lauryn Gillis |6-1 | Senior | Outside Hitter
Molly Haggerty | 6-1 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
Amber MacDonald | 5-4 | Junior | Defensive Specialist
Tionna Williams | 6-2 | Junior | Middle Blocker
Biggest Losses
Lauren Carlini | 6-2 | Setter
Romana Kriskova | 6-2 | Outside Hitter
Haleigh Nelson | 6-4 | Middle Blocker
The Newcomers
Riley Bell | 5-7 | Freshman | Defensive Specialist
Danielle Hart | 6-4 | Freshman | Middle Blocker
Sydney Hilley | 6-0 | Freshman | Setter
Grace Loberg | 6-3 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Dana Rettke | 6-8 | Freshman | Middle Blocker
Nicole Shanahan | 6-2 | Freshman | Middle Blocker
Mariah Whalen | 6-1 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Preseason Matches to Watch
Big Ten/ACC Challenge | Madison, Wisconsin
Aug. 26 vs. North Carolina
K-State Invitational | Manhattan, Kansas
Sept. 2 @ Kansas State
Outlook
The big question mark for Wisconsin is how quickly the team can acclimate to freshman setter Sydney Hilley. The graduation of four-year starting setter and four-time All-American Lauren Carlini will certainly be a hurdle for the 2017 Badgers to overcome, not to mention replacing 6-4 middle blocker Haleigh Nelson and 6-3 versatile hitter Romana Kriskova.
Luckily, the remaining pieces and new additions on the roster are strong. The returners include 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year outside hitter Molly Haggerty, versatile libero/hitter Kelli Bates, reliable defender Amber MacDonald (who was elected captain of the 2017 squad), hard-hitting outside hitter Lauryn Gillis, and fast-twitch middle blocker Tionna Williams.
The group of newcomers, which topped FloVolleyball’s ranking of the best recruiting classes of 2017, includes, of course, Hilley, but also 6-8 middle Dana Rettke and Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year Mariah Whalen, all three of whom graduated high school early and spent the spring at Wisconsin. Defensive specialist Riley Bell, middle blockers Nicole Shanahan and Danielle Hart, and outside hitter Grace Loberg joined the team this summer.
Prediction
The Badgers have been so close so many times, especially in the past four years. With so much young talent, they probably won’t be the top team in the country in September, or even October, but they could be 2017’s Stanford, a young team that puts it all together when it counts.
Get A Closer Look At The Wisconsin Badgers
In our latest FloFilm, step into the gym with the Wisconsin Badgers as new freshman Sydney Hilley trains with legendary setter Lauren Carlini.Lauren Carlini: Setting the Standard
Watch full episode here.