No. 7 Wisconsin and Northwestern

Finally it’s here.

In most years this week is the defining week of the season. If not, it is still one of the most important weeks on the calendar while also having national implications.

It’s Wisconsin week for them No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team. This time, however, the two college volleyball bluebloods will first face off at the UW Fieldhouse, a house of horrors where the Huskers haven’t won since 2013. The first meeting of No. 1 vs. No. 2 last season could not be decided until a review-confirmed Badger net violation in the fifth set gave Nebraska its first win over Wisconsin in 10 contests.

There’s a lot less at stake in the first round between the two schools, but that won’t dampen the rivalry and animosity between two programs that have more overlap than either would like to admit. The entire college volleyball world will be there Friday night for the first of two titanic matchups, with the winner moving level with Penn State at the top of the conference standings and the loser suddenly becoming the third wheel in the Big Ten race.

Here’s everything you need to know as NU begins its four-game road trip.

How to get involved

Matchup: No. 2 Nebraska (20-1, 10-0 B1G) at No. 7 Wisconsin (15-4, 9-1 B1G)

When: Friday, November 1st

Where: UW Fieldhouse, Madison, Wisconsin.

Time: 8:00 p.m. CDT

Regard: Big Ten Network

Hear: Huskers Radio Network and partners

Wisconsin Scout

Head Coach: Kelly Sheffield | 12th season | 307-65 (.825) at Wisconsin | 579-177 career HC record (.766) | Three-time B1G coach OTY (’22, ’19, ’14) | One National Championship (2021) and five B1G Championships (’14,’19,’20,’21,’22).

Record 2023: 30-4 (17-3 B1G, 2nd) | AVCA National Player of the Year, First-Team All-American, Second-Team All-American, two Third-Team All-Americans, Honorable Mention All-American | B1G Player of the Year, three first-team All-Big Ten members, one second-team All-Big Ten selection | 3-1 loss to eventual national champion Texas in the Final Four.

All-time series: Nebraska leads 20-14-1 (last game November 24, 2023, Wisconsin 3-0)

Fun Fact: Nebraska coach John Cook led the Wisconsin program from 1992 to 1998 before returning to Nebraska. He posted an overall record of 161-73, including consecutive 30-win seasons and trips to the Elite Eight in his final two years in Madison. His .688 winning percentage was the highest in school history for coaches with more than one season until Kelly Sheffield arrived to revitalize the program.

Important returnees: Sarah Franklin, OH, Gr. | Devyn Robinson, MB / OPP, Gr. | CC Crawford, MB, Gr. | Anna Smrek, MB / OPP, Sr. | Gulce Guctekin, L, Jr. | Julia Orzol, OH/L, Sr. | Carter Booth, MB, Jr.

Important additions: Carly Anderson, S, Size (Montana) | Charlie Fürbringer, S, Fr. (recruitment) | Trinity Shadd-Ceres, OH, Fr. (Recruitment) | Lola Schumacher, L/DS, Fr. (Recruit).

Most important departures: Temi Thomas-Ailara, OH (Eligibility) | Izzy Ashburn, S (Eligibility) | MJ Hammill, S (Eligibility).

Outlook: This top-seeded Wisconsin senior class will bounce back once again to claim its second national title after winning the program’s first in 2021 over the Huskers. After losing to Texas in the Final Four last season, reigning National Player of the Year Sarah Franklin, All Americans Devyn Robinson and Anna Smrek, and CC Crawford return for either their fifth or senior seasons. Add to that Swiss Army Knife Julia Orzol and 6-7 All-American blocker Carter Booth, and this Badger team is poised for another run at the Final Four – this time in Louisville.

The biggest question centered around the setter position, as head coach Kelly Sheffield moved away from his 6-2 offensive system and setters Izzy Ashburn (second-ranked aces in school career) and MJ Hammill each graduated. Similar to its Big Ten rivals, Wisconsin decided to rely on a true freshman to run the show in Charlie Fuerbringer, the nation’s leading setter coming to Madison. So far, she has averaged 10.60 assists (4th in B1G) and 2.03 digs per set in a strong, experienced lineup. She also chipped in 22 aces, tied for second on the team and one behind the team leader.

Franklin continued to play like the best player in the country with 4.41 kills per set and a .295 hitting percentage. However, their heavy use is something to be aware of. Her 775 attacks are more than double that of second-place Anna Smrek (357). Still, Smrek uses her 6-9 nine frames to her advantage with 2.83 kills per set at a .342 clip, while Devyn Robinson is third on the squad with 2.20 kills per set and a .379 hitting rate.

Freshman Lola Schumacher has seen most of her starts as a libero, while returning junior Gulce Guctekin remains as a defensive specialist. Schumacher leads the team with 3.68 digs per set, while Booth leads the defense with 75 blocks. The Badger block is always a force and that is no different in 2024 with four players having 70 or more blocks. Aside from Booth, Robinson (74), Smrek (74) and Crawford (71) also achieve these values.

There was an early learning curve for this veteran Badger team, as three losses to No. 6 Louisville, No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Stanford left UW with a 1-3 record, but the Badgers have had a 14-1 stretch since then brought close to the top of the conference standings. The only blemish is a five-set loss to No. 18 Minnesota on the road, but there’s a chance they could suffer a loss in the B1G race despite playing the Huskers twice and No. 3 Penn State at home in early November .

It’s never safe to make a prediction in a game like this, but the Badgers are playing well and beat a very good No. 10 Purdue team last Saturday. A Boilermaker team that took Nebraska to five sets just a few weeks ago. The home field will be important, and the Badgers have won eight straight against NU at the Fieldhouse, indicating a huge advantage the Huskers will have to overcome for their first win in Madison in over a decade.

How to get involved

Matchup: No. 2 Nebraska (20-1, 10-0 B1G) at Northwestern (4-14, 2-8 B1G)

When: Sunday, November 3rd

Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, Ill.

Time: 12pm CDT

Regard: B1G+

Hear: Huskers Radio Network and partners

Northwestern Boy Scouts

Head Coach: Tim Nollan | 1st season | 99-50 (.664) career HC record | HC at Grand Canyon with an overall record of 95-36 that led the school to its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth | Eight years as an assistant at USC.

Record 2023: 15-15 (9-11 B1G, T-8) | Oen First Team All-Big Ten member | Did not qualify for the postseason.

All-time series: Nebraska leads 20-1 (Nebraska won 3-1 in last game of 2023)

Fun fact about the series: The Huskers’ only loss to the Wildcats was a four-set road loss in 2011. NU has won 16 straight since then and earned a win in 10 of the matchups over the past 13 years.

Important returnees: Alexa Rousseau, S, size. | Drew Wright, L, Soph. | Kennedy Hill, MB, Jr. | Kathryn Randorf, OH, Jr. | Gigi Navarrete, DS/L, Soph.

Important additions: Buse Hazan, OH, Jr. (South Florida) | Lauren Carter, S, Jr. (Denver) | Rylen Reid, OH, Jr. (Florida Gulf Coast) | Sophia Summers, MB, Gr. (Washington) | Lily Wagner, OH, Soph. (Freedom).

Most important departures: Julia Sangiacomo, OH (Eligibility) | Averie Hernandez, OH, (Illinois) | Leilani Dodson, MB (UCLA) | Maddy Chinn, OH (Eligibility) | Ellee Stinson, L/DS (Texas A&M).

Outlook: Northwestern found itself in a tough spot after the 2023 season and it’s no surprise to see mediocre results more than halfway through 2024. Shane Davis and the university mutually agreed to part ways after his eighth season in which he went 103-128, but struggled with a conference record of 45-105. The parting of ways is due to the lack of momentum in the program, but also to the off-court issues that plagued Davis in his final years.

In July 2023, it was reported that Davis was suspended in March 2021 for his role in bullying one of his players. On July 24, Davis was named in a lawsuit alleging hazing.

Tim Nollan was hired two months later on February 6 and went to work making five transfers to replace a series of departures. The loss of Davis was felt in those departures as underclassman standout Averie Hernandez left for conference opponent Illinois. Leading blocker Leilani Dodson left the sunny skies of Los Angeles for UCLA, while starting hitter Ellee Dodson (4.41 D/S) took her talents to Aggieland at Texas A&M. Additionally, First Team All-Big Ten selection Julia Sangiacomo has graduated and is now playing professionally in Turkey.

South Florida transfer Buse Hazan leads this revamped Wildcast squad with 3.00 kills per set while tied for the team’s top spot with 20 aces. However, the support behind her was sparse as no one else on the roster had a kills-per-set mark above 1.93, thanks to setter Alexa Rousseau, who also spends time as a hitter. Lauren Carter will also see time as a setter, as she came here from Denver for her junior season.

Kennedy Hill is the anchor at center with a team-high 82 blocks while posting a .312 batting average with 121 total kills this season. Sophia Summers comes from Washington and has established herself as the second midfielder with 69 blocks and 1.27 kills per set. Drew Wright began her college career as a hitter but has transitioned into a libero and leads the Wildcats with 2.88 digs per set and 20 aces.

This first season has always been about laying the foundation, and nothing else has shown up. It will be interesting to see if Nollan’s great success at Grand Canyon translates to the Big Ten. Davis, who won two men’s national titles at Chicago-Loyola, was never able to achieve consistent success. Will Nollan’s term end differently? The Wildcats certainly hope so.

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