What’s ahead for the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team in 2024? Here’s an early look.

TAMPA, Fla. –  As of Saturday morning, there were 233 days until the first day of 2024 volleyball season.

A lot can happen during the next eight months.

Sarah Franklin proved that. At this time a year ago, the senior outside hitter was a third-team All-American. Her work during the offseason helped her elevate to the national player of the year.

It also helped the Badgers reach the Final Four, where they suffered a tough four-set loss to Texas Thursday night.

“We are a team that doesn’t back down, doesn’t give up, and this is definitely fuel coming into spring, coming into summer, coming into preseason next year,” Franklin said. “It’s a great opportunity to come back with this group of girls. I think we should watch out for next year.”

With that in mind, it’s never too early to look ahead to the 2024 season.

More: Wisconsin-Texas rematch headlines a Labor Day volleyball showcase at Fiserv Forum

What Wisconsin Badgers volleyball players have completed their eligibility?

Wisconsin is saying goodbye to five players: setters Izzy Ashburn and MJ Hammil, outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara, defensive specialist Joslyn Boyer and defensive specialist Sydney Reed.

What kind of team will the Wisconsin volleyball have next season?

The Badgers will be ahead of most teams with the return of Franklin, right-side hitters Anna Smrek and Devyn Robinson and middle blocker Carter Booth. Those players have seven All-American distinctions among them.

Franklin, Robinson and middle blocker Caroline Crawford are expected to use the extra year of eligibility athletes gained after the 2020 season was upset by the pandemic. Their return plus Smrek and Julia Orzol will give the Badgers five highly experienced seniors.

Statistically this is what they have returning

* The team’s top three kills leaders: Franklin, Smrek and Robinson. When Crawford and Booth are added to the mix, UW will have five of its top six back.

* The team’s top five blockers: Booth, Crawford, Smrek, Robinson and Franklin.

* The top two digs leaders: Orzol and Gulce Guctekin.

* The two ace leaders: Orzol and Guctekin. Those two and Franklin and Crawford were four of the Badgers’ six regular servers.

Who are the incoming players for next season?

Coach Kelly Sheffield signed six high school players in November.

* Setters Charlie Fuerbringer from Hermosa Beach, California, and Morgan Van Wie from Waunakee.

* Libero/defensive specialists Lola Schumacher from Carmel, Indiana, and Maile Chan from Portland.

* Outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres from Kitchener, Ontario.

* Middle blocker Tosia Serafinowska from Kierkz, Poland.

Fuerbringer and Schumacher were American Volleyball Coaches Association first-team high school All-Americans. Fuerbringer was part of the Team USA U19 team that won the gold medal at the FIVB World Championships in August.

THREE OTHER QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Will the Badgers go back to a 5-1 offense?

With the addition of Fuerbringer and the departures of Hammill and Ashburn, it would make sense that the Badgers would return to a one-setter offense in 2024. As it stands, Wisconsin has only two setters, both freshmen, on the roster for next season. Will a veteran be added to the mix from the transfer portal?

Will Julia Orzol remain at libero?

Orzol’s move to libero was one of the key changes Sheffield made this season and she settled into the role and averaged a career-high 3.46 digs per set. The switch took advantage or Orzol’s passing and defense. She is a good all-around player, but her hitting was statistically a weak point as she had a .200 hitting percentage during her first two years.

Can Ella Wrobel and Saige Damrow make an impact in 2024?

Wrobel, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter, didn’t play this season but is expected to compete for playing time next season. The departure of Thomas-Ailara creates a void that will need to be filled.

Damrow, a defensive specialist from Howards Grove, played in three matches earlier in the year but missed most of the season due to a leg injury.

Both players were highly regarded recruits who could fill areas of need.