Wisconsin volleyball: All-American Temi Thomas-Ailara joins UW as a transfer

Head coach Kelly Sheffield is all the time trying so as to add extra firepower to the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball workforce. This time, he’ll herald an All-American standout to the Badgers’ arsenal.

Former Northwestern outdoors hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara introduced Tuesday she dedicated to Wisconsin. She’ll are available as a graduate switch with one yr of eligibility.

The 6-foot-2 outdoors hitter was a four-year standout for the Wildcats, however saved her finest for her closing season the place she was named an AVCA All-American, first workforce All-Huge Ten and AVCA All-Area after main the loaded Huge Ten with 502 kills at a charge of 4.33 kills per set.

Thomas-Ailara boasts a robust swing and was the clear chief for a Northwestern squad that punched above its weight final yr en path to upset wins over Minnesota and Purdue — Thomas-Ailara had 25 kills within the five-set win over Purdue. The senior additionally put up stable defensive numbers throughout blocking and digging, suggesting she might play all six rotations for the Badgers if wanted.

Thomas-Ailara will add an important choice at outdoors hitter for Sheffield to go together with Sarah Franklin and Julia Orzoł. That place misplaced a bit of little bit of depth this low season as Jade Demps transferred to the LSU Tigers.

Thomas-Ailara is the Badgers’ second switch addition this season. Former Minnesota Gopher center blocker Carter Sales space joined the UW as effectively.

The 6-foot-7 center blocker earned All-Huge Ten First Group and Freshman Group honors whereas main the Gophers with 1.48 blocks per set.

UW additionally will add defensive specialist/libero Sage Damrow for the spring semester as an early enrollee. Damrow was a standout at Howards Grove in-state and was named the second finest libero within the class by PrepVolleyball.