MADISON, Wisconsin — The No. 3 Wisconsin volleyball team is one of four teams competing in the State Farm Women’s College Volleyball Showcase at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. The Badgers will play No. 1 Texas at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in a rematch of the 2023 national semifinal that ended the Badgers’ title run. UW then plays No. 5 Stanford at 4 p.m. Monday afternoon. Both games will be televised on FOX.

Before the matches, there are six things you need to know:

1. THE LAST TIME: The Wisconsin volleyball team lost its first match of the 2024 season, falling to No. 6 Louisville on Tuesday night at the AVCA First Serve Showcase. The Badgers came out strong in the first set, winning convincingly 25-18. However, Louisville won the next three sets 17-25, 24-26, 20-25.

2. BEST 2023: Six Badgers had the best season of their careers in at least one statistical category in 2023. Carter Booth hit a season high of .431 with a season high of 1.56 blocks, 0.07 assists and 0.19 digs per set. CC Crawford hit a season high of .329. Sarah Franklin batted a season-best .300 and had a season-best 4.15 kills per set. Senior Julia Orzoł averaged a season-best 3.46 digs, 0.52 assists and 0.31 service aces per set. Devyn Robinson averaged 0.05 assists per set, the best result of the season. Anna Smrek averaged a season-best 2.67 kills per set and a season record of .401. She also holds season records of 1.15 blocks, 0.37 digs and 0.03 service aces per set.

3. CHARLIE WITH A PEDIGREE: The freshman setter got her first real start in Louisville, where she posted 42 assists and nine digs. Both Charlie Fuerbringer’s Parents played and coached collegiate volleyball. Father, Matt, played at Stanford (1992-1997) and was a former AVP pro. Mother, Joy, played (1990-1994) and coached at Long Beach State. Matt also helped the men’s national indoor volleyball team win a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics while he was an assistant coach. Matt was also named head coach of the LOVB team in Madison.



4. TOP FIVE IN THE LAST FIVE: Wisconsin volleyball is the only Division I team that has finished in the Top 5 in the past five years. This includes football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and volleyball.

5. EXPLORING THE LONGHORNS: This will be the 10th meeting between the two teams, as Texas holds a 5-4 overall lead. The most recent matchup was the 2023 national semifinal in Tampa last December, where Texas defeated Wisconsin 22-25, 25-20, 13-25, 16-25. The Longhorns went on to win the national championship and become back-to-back champions. Texas will return four key weapons, including winger Madisen Skinner, who was named Big 12 Player of the Year, AVCA Southwest Region Player of the Year and Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Emma Halter, Ella Swindle and Reagan Rutherford are also returning for Texas.

6. SCOUT STANFORD: The Badgers have yet to win a game against Stanford, as they hold a 5-0 overall record over UW. The most recent meeting came in the 2019 National Championship game, where Stanford swept the Badgers 16-25, 17-25, 20-25. No. 6 Stanford was projected to finish second in the ACC during its inaugural season in the conference. Middle blocker Sami Frances, setter Kami Miner, libero Elena Oglivie and outside hitter Elijah Rubin were all named to the 18-player Preseason All-ACC Team.