Reaching 11,678 attending fans, the Kohl Center was buzzing with fans to support No. 8 University of Wisconsin’s Volleyball team at the Opening Spike Classic.
This was not just another home opener. With 10 new recruits, five debuting starts and the weight of a No. 8 ranking, Wisconsin volleyball unveiled the 2025 season.
The Badgers played two matches, first Aug. 29, against No. 14 University of Kansas and Aug. 31 against No. 5 University of Texas.
For both matches, five of the seven starters were making their Badger debut: redshirt sophomore outside hitter Una Vajagic, freshman libero Kristen Simon, senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer, redshirt senior middle back Alicia Andrew, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Grace Egan and returning captains, sophomore setter Charlie Fuerbringer and senior middle back Carter Booth.
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Fuerbringer ended last season with a career high of 59 assists vs. unranked Ohio State. Starting in 32 of the 33 matches played, Fuerbringer set the scene on the service line, ranking second on the team with a total of 37 service aces.
Both Friday and Sunday’s matches showed her flexibility with the new roster. From her communication with her hitters to her signature tip over kill, scoring four kills against Kansas during Friday’s match.
Her third season with the Badgers shined bright. Last season Booth played 29 of 33 matches, starting in 28. Booth scored her career high in kills, 14 against No. 18 Texas A&M, and career high for 12 blocks against unranked University of Michigan.
Booth received the 2024 Second-Team All-Big Ten award alongside the 2024 AVCA All-North Region.
Vajagic is starting her second season with Wisconsin after being redshirted last season due to a knee injury. After the Opening Spike Classic, Vajagic stands with 23 kills, scoring 26.5 points for the Badgers.
Coyler transferred to Wisconsin last spring after two seasons in Oregon. She was awarded 2024 AVCA Northwest Region Player of the Year and placed on the 2024 AVCA All-American Second Team.
Coyler has scored 40 kills for the Badgers after the weekend, averaging out to 5 kills per set.
On Friday’s match alone she scored 26 kills, with a 0.339 hitting percentage, only three behind her career high of 29 at Oregon.
After winning the 2024 Gatorade Kentucky Volleyball Player of the Year, new libero Simon is starting for the Badgers from Louisville, Kent. Simon gained 10 assists for Wisconsin and 23 digs against Kansas Friday night.
Returning sophomore defensive specialist Maile Chan made her season debut in this tournament as well. Her freshman year she made her Badger debut against Texas and began starting for Wisconsin after UCLA. In 2024 Chan had 15 digs averaging out to 0.88 digs per set.
Andrew made her Wisconsin debut on Friday after four seasons at Baylor. She scored eight kills for the Badgers and a total of 14 points against Kansas. In 2024, Andrew totaled 169 kills and 103 blocks, leading the team at Baylor.
Outside hitter Egan transferred into the program this year after two seasons at Ohio State. She totaled a career-high of 22 kills against Wisconsin. After the tournament Egan has a total of 19 kills, hitting at 0.189.
On Sunday’s set, Egan had seven kills in the first set alone. She was able to find the hands and get the cross court kills through the Texas block.
Against Texas, Egan recorded her fourth career double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs.
Andrew and Egan got two Badger blocks on Sunday, Andrew standing at 6-foot-3 and Egan at 6-foot-1.
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Head coach Kelly Sheffield believes this will be his highest scoring team off of the service line. With two new assistant coaches, John Shondell, 19 years of coaching experience at Purdue as an assistant coach and Lauren Carlini, returning to her alma mater playing 2013-2016 for the Badgers.
Sheffield is entering his 13th season as head coach for Wisconsin. Leading the team to five Big Ten conference championships, 2014, ’19, ’20, ’21 and ‘22. Wisconsin is the only team to have recorded four consecutive titles.
He has 26 All American players and two AVCA National Player of the Year awards, Sarah Franklin in 2023 and Dana Rettke in 2021.
In the last 12 seasons, Sheffield has led Wisconsin 42-11 in NCAA play.
Captains, Booth and Fuerbringer are set to lead this young team to victory.
“We’re going to learn what we’re made of,” Booth said. “We have done the work this past spring and summer, but nothing prepares you for a game, like playing a game.”
The Badger squad is set to play again in the Kohl Center Sept. 21 against No. 16 University of Florida at 12 p.m. Wisconsin returns to the Field House Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. against unranked University of Rutgers.