Photo by: David Stluka
This week in Badger Volleyball: Aug. 21-27
August 22, 2017 | Volleyball
Wisconsin hosts Big Ten/ACC Challenge
WISCONSIN OPENS 2017 SEASON AT HOME
Wisconsin opens the 2017 season by hosting the fourth-annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The seventh-ranked Badgers (28-5 in 2016) and fourth-ranked Minnesota (29-4) represent the Big Ten, taking on 11th-ranked North Carolina (29-4) and Louisville (12-18) from the ACC.
The Golden Gophers take on the Tar Heels on Friday at 4:30 p.m. while the Badgers host the Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Minnesota faces Louisville at 4 p.m. while Wisconsin takes on UNC at 7 p.m. Both matches are already sold out.
TEAM SCHEDULE MAGNET AND POSTER GIVEAWAY
Fans will receive the 2017 Wisconsin Volleyball team schedule magnet prior to Friday's match and the official team poster on Saturday. Both items courtesy of UW Health.
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BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE HISTORY
The Big Ten dominates the history of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Big Ten is 10-2 in the Challenge. Minnesota fell to Louisville in the 2014 tournament while Wisconsin fell at North Carolina last season.
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SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
North Carolina
The Tar Heels enter the 2017 season ranked 11th. After claiming team's 13th Athletic Coast Conference championship, North Carolina made a run to the quarterfinals during the NCAA Tournament, falling to UCLA, 3-1.
North Carolina returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from the 2016 season. Taylor Leath, a 6-3 redshirt junior outside hitter, paces all returners with 3.20 kills per set while adding an additional 2.56 digs per set. Sophomore Julia Scoles looks to follow up a tremendous freshman campaign as outside hitter after recording 3.05 kills per set (.276%) and 2.59 digs per set.
Taylor Fricano, a preseason All-ACC pick, is returning to the Field House for the first time after transfering from Wisconsin in 2015. The 6-4 middle blocker hit .327 percent (1.47 kills/set) last season with 1.34 blocks per set.
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vs. North Carolina
Wisconsin leads 5-2
First meeting in Madison
Last meeting: North Carolina defeated the Badgers, 3-2, during the 2016 Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Louisville
The Cardinals held a 12-18 record in 2016, going 7-12 in Athletic Coast Conference play to finish 10th. Louisville will be playing their first matches under first-year Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly this weekend.
Louisville brings a lot of experience, with five starters and the libero returning for the 2017 season. Tess CLark and Molly Sauer lead the charge for the Cardinals, both earning spots on the preseason All-ACC team. Clark, a 6-3 senior middle blocker, hit a team-high .340 percent (2.41 kills/set) with 0.97 blocks per set. Sauer, a junior libero, dug out 4.52 balls per set last season. Melanie McHenery, a 6-2 outside hitter, is a double threat at the net and the service line. The sophomore recorded 3.13 kills per set and .034 aces per set during her freshman season.
vs. Louisville
Wisconsin leads 6-1
In Madison: Wisconsin leads 1-0
Last meeting: The Badgers topped Louisville, 3-0, at the 2016 Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
IN THE NEWS
Next Up: Volleyball's Hilley leads watch list of talent on the rise - UWBadgers.com
Duello makes play for spot in Wisconsin's lineup - Madison.com
New season begins with same high expectations - Madison.com
VIDEOS TO WATCH
Sheffield Weekly Presser
Driven: Season 3 Teaser
Badgers set an example with Special Olympics athletes
Volleyball back in the Field House for intrasquad scrimmage
2016 SUCCESS
The Badgers wrapped up the 2016 season with a 28-5 record, advancing to their fourth-straight NCAA tournament. UW qualified for the NCAA Elite Eight, advancing to regional play for the fourth straight year. Wisconsin also tied for second with Minnesota in the Big Ten at 17-3.
BADGERS RANKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Wisconsin opens the season ranked seventh in the AVCA Preseason Coaches' poll. It is the fourth straight year that the Badgers open the season among the top-10 teams in the nation. UW was ranked fourth in 2016, tied for fifth in 2015, and sixth in 2014. Wisconsin has been ranked in the top 10 nine times in program history.
Texas (27-5 in 2016) leads the poll with reigning NCAA champion Stanford (27-7) coming in second. Washington (29-5), Minnesota (29-5) and Nebraska (31-3) round out the top five, respectively.
The Big Ten dominates the poll with four teams in the top 10 and eight teams in the top 25. Penn State (24-10) ranks sixth with the Badgers (28-5) seventh. Michigan (24-11) and Michigan State (25-9) are 16th and 17th, respectively. Ohio State (22-13) comes in at No. 21 while Purdue (19-14) rounds out the poll at No. 25. AVCA Poll
HAGGERTY, WILLIAMS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
Junior Tionna Williams and sophomore Molly Haggerty were named to the 15-player Preseason All-Big Ten team.
Haggerty, a 6-1 outside hitter, is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She led the Badgers and ranked seventh in the conference with 3.41 kills per set last season. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native recorded double-figure kills in 18 matches and 20-plus kills in five matches. Haggerty had nine double-doubles on the season as she averaged 2.44 digs per set. Haggerty earned third-team All-America honors by the AVCA. She was named the AVCA Northeast Region Freshman of the Year.
A 6-2 middle blocker, Williams led the Badgers and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 1.27 blocks per set as a sophomore. She also ranked second on the team with a .326 hitting percentage, ranking 11th in the conference. Williams added 2.27 kills per game, which ranked fourth in the squad. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Williams was a third-team AVCA All-American and a member of the 2016 All-Big Ten team. Â
Wisconsin was picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll. Penn State was picked to win the 2017 Big Ten title followed by Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State, respectively. Big Ten Preseason Poll
BIG LOSSES BUT LEADERS RETURN
UW lost three starters and six letterwinners to graduation or injury, including All-Americans Lauren Carlini and Haleigh Nelson. Wisconsin returns nine letterwinners and four starters. Despite the losses, Wisconsin returns 61.8 percent of its kills, 50 percent of its service aces, 73.6 percent of its digs and 45.2 percent of its blocks.
Sophomore Molly Haggerty led the Badgers with 3.41 kills per set while senior Lauryn Gillis was second with 3.07 kills per set. Junior Tionna Williams lead UW with 1.27 blocks per set last season. She was also second on the team with a .326 hitting percentage. Senior Kelli Bates had a team-best 3.98 digs per set in 2016. She also ranked third with 22 service aces (0.18/set). 2016 Wisconsin Statistics
YOUNG GUNS
Wisconsin has a young team in 2017 with two seniors, two juniors and the 13 underclassmen.
Senior Lauryn Gillis and Kelli Bates as well as juniors Amber MacDonald and Tionna Williams will lead the team. The Badgers have six sophomores, including one redshirt and one transfer, and seven freshmen on the 2017 squad. 2017 Badger Roster
NO. 2 RECRUITING CLASS
The Badgers welcome the second-ranked recruiting class in the country, according the PrepVolleyball.com and Volleyball Magazine. Wisconsin was also ranked first by Flo Volleyball. Â
UW freshman are Sydney Hilley (#3 Senior Ace), Dana Rettke (#8), Danielle Hart (#17), Grace Loberg (#19), Mariah Whalen (#37) as well as Riley Bell and Nicole Shanahan. Â
RECORD NUMBER OF TICKETS SOLD
Nearly 5,000 season tickets were sold for the 2017 Wisconsin volleyball season, an increase of 1,445 tickets from last season. Wisconsin sold a record 4,885 season tickets this year, up from the previous mark of 3,440 tickets sold in 2016.
Seven matches are already sold out—Louisville, North Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Penn State.
SIX NATIONAL TELEVSION APPEARANCES
Wisconsin will make six national television appearances in 2017. The Badgers are scheduled to make one appearance on ESPN and five appearances on the Big Ten Network.
Wisconsin makes an appearance on ESPN when Michigan comes to the UW Field House on Sept. 24. Home matches against Minnesota on Oct. 4 and Nebraska on Oct. 11 will appear live on the Big Ten Network. Fans will also have a chance to watch three road matches as contests at Maryland on Oct. 18, at Minnesota on Oct. 21, and at Penn State on Oct. 25 air live on the Big Ten Network. Big Ten Fall TV Schedule
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MACDONALD NAMED TEAM CAPTAIN
Junior Amber MacDonald has been elected captain of the Badger team for 2017 by a votes of players and coaches. A 5-4 defensive specialist, MacDonald has played in 63 matches and 227 sets at UW. She is averaging 1.89 digs per set for her career, tallying 10-or-more digs in 16 matches, and 0.14 service aces per set.
REACH FOR THE STARS
UW has one of its tallest front-row teams. The average height of Wisconsin's front-row hitters is a little over 6-2. The Badgers have four players 6-3 or taller—Dana Rettke (6-8), Danielle Hart (6-4), Madison Duello (6-3) and Grace Loberg (6-3). Â
Wisconsin has a total of 10 players at 6-0 or taller. In addition to the quartet at 6-3 or taller, six other players are 6-0 or taller—Tionna Williams (6-2), Nicole Shanahan (6-2), Lauryn Gillis (6-1), Mariah Whalen (6-1), Molly Haggerty (6-1) and Sydney Hilley (6-0),
TOUGH SCHEDULE IN 2017
UW will play 12 matches against teams ranked among the top-25 teams in preseason national coaches poll.
Wisconsin will play No. 4 Minnesota twice, No. 5 Nebraska twice, No. 6 Penn State twice, and No. 17 Michigan State twice. The Badgers also face No. 16 Michigan once, Nov. 21 Ohio State once and No. 25 Purdue once. In addition to its Big Ten opponents, Wisconsin will also play No. 11 North Carolina in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Kansas State, which receives votes, at the K-State Invitational, and Texas A&M, which also receives votes, at the HotelRED Invitational.
UW played a record 18 ranked teams in 2016, going 13-5 for the most wins in a season over ranked opponents. Â
WHAT TO WATCH FOR?
Three UW players are closing in on career milestones.
SHEFFIELD CLOSING IN ON 400 WINS
Head coach Kelly Sheffield is only 14 wins away from 400 victories for his career. He is 386-137 (.738) in 16 years as a head coach.
Sheffield is 113-25 (.819) in four years at Wisconsin. He was also 131-33 (.799) in five years at Dayton and 142-79 (.643) in seven years at Albany.
FRESHMEN SHINE AT INTRASQUAD
The second-ranked recruiting class in the country turned in impressives performances at the Badgers' intrasquad scrimmage last Friday. Â
Sydney Hilley, the third-ranked freshman in the country, set the White team to a 25-22, 25-13, 25-18 sweep of the Cardinal team. The 6-0 setter put up 40 assists while adding two kills, four digs and one block.
Grace Loberg and Mariah Whalen led all hitters with 12 kills apiece while Dana Rettke and Danielle Hart added 11 and nine putaways, respectively. Hart and Loberg both hit over .500. Hart attacked at a team best .533 (9-1-15) while Loberg was close behind at .526 (12-2-19).
Sophomore M.E. Dodge recorded a match-high 12 digs while Rettke led all blockers with four stuffs, including one solo. Loberg added three blocks. The two teams combined for nine service aces with two each coming from Whalen, Dodge and Sarah Dodd.
BUSY SUMMER
Sophomore Tiffany Clark was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team that won a gold medal at the Pan-American Cup in Costa Rico. She also competed with the team at the Women's U20 World Championship, finishing seventh. Â
Junior Tionna Williams was a member of the Big Ten Foreign Tour that traveled to the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria and Italy in June.
GATORADE HONOREES
Wisconsin has five Gatorade State Players of the Year on its roster, including two-time honorees Molly Haggerty and Sydney Hilley.
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PREPVOLLEYBALL SENIOR ACES
The Badgers have 13 players who were ranked among the top 100 in the PrepVolleyball list of Senior Aces.
PrepVolleyball Senior Aces
Sydney Hilley   #3
Molly Haggerty   #5
Tionna Williams   #6
Lauryn Gillis   #7
Dana Rettke   #8
Madison Duello   #9
Danielle Hart   #17
Grace Loberg   #19
Tiffany Clark   #24
Mariah Whalen   #37
M.E. Dodge   #57
Kelli Bates   #63
Amber MacDonald   #91
IRON BADGERS
Senior Kelli Bates has played in all 100 matches and all 355 sets as a Badger. Junior Tionna Williams has played in all 66 matches at Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin opens the 2017 season by hosting the fourth-annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The seventh-ranked Badgers (28-5 in 2016) and fourth-ranked Minnesota (29-4) represent the Big Ten, taking on 11th-ranked North Carolina (29-4) and Louisville (12-18) from the ACC.
The Golden Gophers take on the Tar Heels on Friday at 4:30 p.m. while the Badgers host the Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Minnesota faces Louisville at 4 p.m. while Wisconsin takes on UNC at 7 p.m. Both matches are already sold out.
TEAM SCHEDULE MAGNET AND POSTER GIVEAWAY
Fans will receive the 2017 Wisconsin Volleyball team schedule magnet prior to Friday's match and the official team poster on Saturday. Both items courtesy of UW Health.
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BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE HISTORY
The Big Ten dominates the history of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Big Ten is 10-2 in the Challenge. Minnesota fell to Louisville in the 2014 tournament while Wisconsin fell at North Carolina last season.
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| Â Year | Â Louisville | Â Minnesota | Â North Carolina | Â Wisconsin |
| Â 2014 | Â 1-1 | Â 1-1 | Â DNC * | Â 2-0 |
| Â 2015 | Â 0-2 | Â 2-0 | Â 0-2 | Â 2-0 |
| Â 2016 | Â 0-2 | Â 2-0 | Â 1-1 | Â 1-1 |
| Â * Notre Dame competed in 2014 | ||||
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
North Carolina
The Tar Heels enter the 2017 season ranked 11th. After claiming team's 13th Athletic Coast Conference championship, North Carolina made a run to the quarterfinals during the NCAA Tournament, falling to UCLA, 3-1.
North Carolina returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from the 2016 season. Taylor Leath, a 6-3 redshirt junior outside hitter, paces all returners with 3.20 kills per set while adding an additional 2.56 digs per set. Sophomore Julia Scoles looks to follow up a tremendous freshman campaign as outside hitter after recording 3.05 kills per set (.276%) and 2.59 digs per set.
Taylor Fricano, a preseason All-ACC pick, is returning to the Field House for the first time after transfering from Wisconsin in 2015. The 6-4 middle blocker hit .327 percent (1.47 kills/set) last season with 1.34 blocks per set.
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vs. North Carolina
Wisconsin leads 5-2
First meeting in Madison
Last meeting: North Carolina defeated the Badgers, 3-2, during the 2016 Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Louisville
The Cardinals held a 12-18 record in 2016, going 7-12 in Athletic Coast Conference play to finish 10th. Louisville will be playing their first matches under first-year Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly this weekend.
Louisville brings a lot of experience, with five starters and the libero returning for the 2017 season. Tess CLark and Molly Sauer lead the charge for the Cardinals, both earning spots on the preseason All-ACC team. Clark, a 6-3 senior middle blocker, hit a team-high .340 percent (2.41 kills/set) with 0.97 blocks per set. Sauer, a junior libero, dug out 4.52 balls per set last season. Melanie McHenery, a 6-2 outside hitter, is a double threat at the net and the service line. The sophomore recorded 3.13 kills per set and .034 aces per set during her freshman season.
vs. Louisville
Wisconsin leads 6-1
In Madison: Wisconsin leads 1-0
Last meeting: The Badgers topped Louisville, 3-0, at the 2016 Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
IN THE NEWS
Next Up: Volleyball's Hilley leads watch list of talent on the rise - UWBadgers.com
Duello makes play for spot in Wisconsin's lineup - Madison.com
New season begins with same high expectations - Madison.com
VIDEOS TO WATCH
Sheffield Weekly Presser
Driven: Season 3 Teaser
Badgers set an example with Special Olympics athletes
Volleyball back in the Field House for intrasquad scrimmage
2016 SUCCESS
The Badgers wrapped up the 2016 season with a 28-5 record, advancing to their fourth-straight NCAA tournament. UW qualified for the NCAA Elite Eight, advancing to regional play for the fourth straight year. Wisconsin also tied for second with Minnesota in the Big Ten at 17-3.
BADGERS RANKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Wisconsin opens the season ranked seventh in the AVCA Preseason Coaches' poll. It is the fourth straight year that the Badgers open the season among the top-10 teams in the nation. UW was ranked fourth in 2016, tied for fifth in 2015, and sixth in 2014. Wisconsin has been ranked in the top 10 nine times in program history.
Texas (27-5 in 2016) leads the poll with reigning NCAA champion Stanford (27-7) coming in second. Washington (29-5), Minnesota (29-5) and Nebraska (31-3) round out the top five, respectively.
The Big Ten dominates the poll with four teams in the top 10 and eight teams in the top 25. Penn State (24-10) ranks sixth with the Badgers (28-5) seventh. Michigan (24-11) and Michigan State (25-9) are 16th and 17th, respectively. Ohio State (22-13) comes in at No. 21 while Purdue (19-14) rounds out the poll at No. 25. AVCA Poll
HAGGERTY, WILLIAMS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
Junior Tionna Williams and sophomore Molly Haggerty were named to the 15-player Preseason All-Big Ten team.
Haggerty, a 6-1 outside hitter, is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She led the Badgers and ranked seventh in the conference with 3.41 kills per set last season. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native recorded double-figure kills in 18 matches and 20-plus kills in five matches. Haggerty had nine double-doubles on the season as she averaged 2.44 digs per set. Haggerty earned third-team All-America honors by the AVCA. She was named the AVCA Northeast Region Freshman of the Year.
A 6-2 middle blocker, Williams led the Badgers and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 1.27 blocks per set as a sophomore. She also ranked second on the team with a .326 hitting percentage, ranking 11th in the conference. Williams added 2.27 kills per game, which ranked fourth in the squad. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Williams was a third-team AVCA All-American and a member of the 2016 All-Big Ten team. Â
Wisconsin was picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll. Penn State was picked to win the 2017 Big Ten title followed by Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State, respectively. Big Ten Preseason Poll
BIG LOSSES BUT LEADERS RETURN
UW lost three starters and six letterwinners to graduation or injury, including All-Americans Lauren Carlini and Haleigh Nelson. Wisconsin returns nine letterwinners and four starters. Despite the losses, Wisconsin returns 61.8 percent of its kills, 50 percent of its service aces, 73.6 percent of its digs and 45.2 percent of its blocks.
Sophomore Molly Haggerty led the Badgers with 3.41 kills per set while senior Lauryn Gillis was second with 3.07 kills per set. Junior Tionna Williams lead UW with 1.27 blocks per set last season. She was also second on the team with a .326 hitting percentage. Senior Kelli Bates had a team-best 3.98 digs per set in 2016. She also ranked third with 22 service aces (0.18/set). 2016 Wisconsin Statistics
YOUNG GUNS
Wisconsin has a young team in 2017 with two seniors, two juniors and the 13 underclassmen.
Senior Lauryn Gillis and Kelli Bates as well as juniors Amber MacDonald and Tionna Williams will lead the team. The Badgers have six sophomores, including one redshirt and one transfer, and seven freshmen on the 2017 squad. 2017 Badger Roster
NO. 2 RECRUITING CLASS
The Badgers welcome the second-ranked recruiting class in the country, according the PrepVolleyball.com and Volleyball Magazine. Wisconsin was also ranked first by Flo Volleyball. Â
UW freshman are Sydney Hilley (#3 Senior Ace), Dana Rettke (#8), Danielle Hart (#17), Grace Loberg (#19), Mariah Whalen (#37) as well as Riley Bell and Nicole Shanahan. Â
RECORD NUMBER OF TICKETS SOLD
Nearly 5,000 season tickets were sold for the 2017 Wisconsin volleyball season, an increase of 1,445 tickets from last season. Wisconsin sold a record 4,885 season tickets this year, up from the previous mark of 3,440 tickets sold in 2016.
Seven matches are already sold out—Louisville, North Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Penn State.
SIX NATIONAL TELEVSION APPEARANCES
Wisconsin will make six national television appearances in 2017. The Badgers are scheduled to make one appearance on ESPN and five appearances on the Big Ten Network.
Wisconsin makes an appearance on ESPN when Michigan comes to the UW Field House on Sept. 24. Home matches against Minnesota on Oct. 4 and Nebraska on Oct. 11 will appear live on the Big Ten Network. Fans will also have a chance to watch three road matches as contests at Maryland on Oct. 18, at Minnesota on Oct. 21, and at Penn State on Oct. 25 air live on the Big Ten Network. Big Ten Fall TV Schedule
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MACDONALD NAMED TEAM CAPTAIN
Junior Amber MacDonald has been elected captain of the Badger team for 2017 by a votes of players and coaches. A 5-4 defensive specialist, MacDonald has played in 63 matches and 227 sets at UW. She is averaging 1.89 digs per set for her career, tallying 10-or-more digs in 16 matches, and 0.14 service aces per set.
REACH FOR THE STARS
UW has one of its tallest front-row teams. The average height of Wisconsin's front-row hitters is a little over 6-2. The Badgers have four players 6-3 or taller—Dana Rettke (6-8), Danielle Hart (6-4), Madison Duello (6-3) and Grace Loberg (6-3). Â
Wisconsin has a total of 10 players at 6-0 or taller. In addition to the quartet at 6-3 or taller, six other players are 6-0 or taller—Tionna Williams (6-2), Nicole Shanahan (6-2), Lauryn Gillis (6-1), Mariah Whalen (6-1), Molly Haggerty (6-1) and Sydney Hilley (6-0),
TOUGH SCHEDULE IN 2017
UW will play 12 matches against teams ranked among the top-25 teams in preseason national coaches poll.
Wisconsin will play No. 4 Minnesota twice, No. 5 Nebraska twice, No. 6 Penn State twice, and No. 17 Michigan State twice. The Badgers also face No. 16 Michigan once, Nov. 21 Ohio State once and No. 25 Purdue once. In addition to its Big Ten opponents, Wisconsin will also play No. 11 North Carolina in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Kansas State, which receives votes, at the K-State Invitational, and Texas A&M, which also receives votes, at the HotelRED Invitational.
UW played a record 18 ranked teams in 2016, going 13-5 for the most wins in a season over ranked opponents. Â
WHAT TO WATCH FOR?
Three UW players are closing in on career milestones.
- Senior Kelli Bates needs just four kills for 800 in her fourth season.
- Sophomore Molly Haggerty will reach 400 kills in 15 putaways. She also need 24 digs for 300 career saves.
- Senior Lauryn Gillis is four blocks away from 100 for her career.
SHEFFIELD CLOSING IN ON 400 WINS
Head coach Kelly Sheffield is only 14 wins away from 400 victories for his career. He is 386-137 (.738) in 16 years as a head coach.
Sheffield is 113-25 (.819) in four years at Wisconsin. He was also 131-33 (.799) in five years at Dayton and 142-79 (.643) in seven years at Albany.
FRESHMEN SHINE AT INTRASQUAD
The second-ranked recruiting class in the country turned in impressives performances at the Badgers' intrasquad scrimmage last Friday. Â
Sydney Hilley, the third-ranked freshman in the country, set the White team to a 25-22, 25-13, 25-18 sweep of the Cardinal team. The 6-0 setter put up 40 assists while adding two kills, four digs and one block.
Grace Loberg and Mariah Whalen led all hitters with 12 kills apiece while Dana Rettke and Danielle Hart added 11 and nine putaways, respectively. Hart and Loberg both hit over .500. Hart attacked at a team best .533 (9-1-15) while Loberg was close behind at .526 (12-2-19).
Sophomore M.E. Dodge recorded a match-high 12 digs while Rettke led all blockers with four stuffs, including one solo. Loberg added three blocks. The two teams combined for nine service aces with two each coming from Whalen, Dodge and Sarah Dodd.
BUSY SUMMER
Sophomore Tiffany Clark was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team that won a gold medal at the Pan-American Cup in Costa Rico. She also competed with the team at the Women's U20 World Championship, finishing seventh. Â
Junior Tionna Williams was a member of the Big Ten Foreign Tour that traveled to the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria and Italy in June.
GATORADE HONOREES
Wisconsin has five Gatorade State Players of the Year on its roster, including two-time honorees Molly Haggerty and Sydney Hilley.
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| Â Gatorade Players of the Year | ||
| Â M.E. Dodge | Â Wisconsin | Â 2015 |
| Â Madison Duello | Â Missouri | Â 2014 |
| Â Lauryn Gillis | Â Indiana | Â 2013 |
| Â Molly Haggerty | Â Illinois | Â 2014, 2015 |
| Â Sydney Hilley | Â Minnesota | Â 2015, 2016 |
PREPVOLLEYBALL SENIOR ACES
The Badgers have 13 players who were ranked among the top 100 in the PrepVolleyball list of Senior Aces.
PrepVolleyball Senior Aces
Sydney Hilley   #3
Molly Haggerty   #5
Tionna Williams   #6
Lauryn Gillis   #7
Dana Rettke   #8
Madison Duello   #9
Danielle Hart   #17
Grace Loberg   #19
Tiffany Clark   #24
Mariah Whalen   #37
M.E. Dodge   #57
Kelli Bates   #63
Amber MacDonald   #91
IRON BADGERS
Senior Kelli Bates has played in all 100 matches and all 355 sets as a Badger. Junior Tionna Williams has played in all 66 matches at Wisconsin.
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Players Mentioned
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