Wisconsin

Wisconsin volleyball draws Fairfield for NCAA Tournament, rematch with Nebraska could be in offing

Published

1 year ago

December 2, 2024

Wisconsin volleyball draws Fairfield for NCAA Tournament, rematch with Nebraska could be in offing

MADISON – When Wisconsin’s spot in the NCAA volleyball tournament bracket was revealed Sunday evening, Badgers coach Kelly Sheffield’s attention turned to first-round opponent Fairfield.

Fans of the sport, however, had the luxury of looking ahead to another showdown against the team at the bottom of the UW’s portion of the bracket.

Nebraska earned the overall No. 3 seed for the tournament. If it and the Badgers get to the regional final, the two rivals would square off for a berth in the Final Four.

However, getting to that point in the postseason isn’t Sheffield’s focus right now.

“You’ve got to be really good at taking it one week at a time, one little mini tournament at a time,” said Sheffield, whose team was swept twice by the Cornhuskers this season. “We’ll have four teams and we’re going to try to win that mini tournament of four and then look ahead to see who’s there.

“One thing that I’ve learned over the years is that if you get ahead of yourself it’s doesn’t put yourself in a position to last too long.”

Badgers will host first weekend of matches

Wisconsin is the overall No. 7 seed for the tournament. This marks the 12^th straight season Wisconsin has qualified for the tournament and the fourth straight year it will host the opening weekend of matches.

Georgia Tech (20-9) and Tennessee (15-11) are also coming to the Field House. They are scheduled to play at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The UW-Fairfield match will follow with an approximate starting time of 7 p.m.

The winners of Thursday’s matches will meet at 7 p.m. Friday for the right to advance to the Sweet 16. Barring an upset of Nebraska, the regional semifinal and final for that portion of the bracket will be hosted by the Cornhuskers.

The Final Four is at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

First things, however, first.

Fairfield (21-11) won the regular season Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and then clinched a spot in the tournament with victories over Canisius and Quinnipiac in the conference tournament.

“I haven’t played them. I haven’t played anybody in their league, but that is the cool parts of the NCAA Tournament,” Sheffield said. “For months we’ve played teams that we play year after year after year and you get to the NCAA Tournament and most likely, especially that first round, it’s not only schools you haven’t played in most cases it may be from conference where you haven’t played anybody. It’s the magic of the tournament.”

Big Ten Conference is well represented

Nine Big Ten teams made the 64-team field, which ties the ACC and SEC as the conference with the most teams in the field. The Big Ten is the only league with two No. 1 seeds: Penn State, the overall No. 2 seed, and Nebraska, the No. 3.

“I’m not sure I saw any surprise there,” Sheffield said. “I think it shows once again how deep and competitive the conference is. Half of the top four seeds and quite a few of the overall 16 seeds. It’s what we face every weekend.”

Wisconsin finished the regular season with a 23-6 record and finished third in the Big Ten with a 17-3 mark.

The Badgers closed the regular season with a five-set win over Ohio State on Wednesday and a four-set victory over Michigan State on Saturday. Both matches lasted longer than 2 ½ hours.

Freshman libero Lola Schumacher, who missed three matches due to apparent concussion, returned as a defensive specialist for the last two matches. Junior defensive specialist Gulce Guctekin remains sidelined.

“It feels like we’re knocking on the door of putting things together,” Sheffield said. “We’ve played some really good volleyball. There is a lot of experience on this team and they’ve played a lot of NCAA Tournament matches.

“I know they’re excited to get going. You play the entire regular season to prepare yourself for the NCAA Tournament and this is probably the deepest I’ve ever seen the Tournament. The number of teams I could see getting into a regional final or Final Four is probably the most I can ever remember.”

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Wisconsin

Flooding closes state highways around Northeast Wisconsin

Published

9 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

Flooding closes state highways around Northeast Wisconsin

(WLUK) — Many roads remain closed as Northeast Wisconsin continues to deal with the effects of heavy rain and flooding.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation released this list of road closures Thursday for state highways in the area:

Highway 147 is closed at Church Street in Mishicot due to flooding.

A detour route is posted using County V, WIS 42 and County VV.

Highway 54 is closed in both directions from near N. Maple Street/Highway 47 in Black Creek to Hooyman Road/County M west of Shiocton due to flooding on roadway.

Alternate route for southbound: Take Highway 47 to County S to County M.
Reverse for northbound.

Highway 76 is closed in both directions from East Avenue in Shiocton to Oak Crest Drive in Stephensville due to flooding on roadway.

No detour is available with all other county roadways flooded in this area as well. Planned to be closed indefinitely.

Highway 76 is closed in both directions from County D in Bear Creek to Highway 54 in Shiocton because of flooding on roadway.

No detour is available with all other county roadways flooded in this area as well. Planned to be closed indefinitely.

Highway 54 is closed in both directions from Gorges Road in Northport to Jeanne Street in New London due to flooding on roadway. NOTE: Highway 45 north and south of New London is closed for an ongoing construction project.

Alternate Route for eastbound traffic: Traffic will exit Highway 54 at Highway 110/22, north on Highway 110/22 to County BB, east on County BB to County B, north on County B to Highway 22, east on Highway 22 to US 45, north on US 45 to Highway 22, North on Highway 22 to Highway 156, East on Highway 156 to Highway 47, south on Highway 47 back to Highway 54.
Reverse for westbound.

Highway 187 from Highway 156 in Shawano County to Highway 54 in Outagamie County is closed in both directions due to flooding.

Alternate route for southbound: Highway 156 to Highway 47 to Highway 54.
Reverse for northbound.

Highway 110 is closed in both directions south of Manawa from County B in Manawa to County BB due to flooding on roadway.

Alternate route for northbound: Northbound traffic will exit WIS 110 at County BB, east on County BB to County B, north on County B back to Highway 110.
Reverse for southbound.

If you can safely take a photo or video of conditions where you are, share it with us here:

The DOT also gave these tips for safe driving during flood conditions:

Please make sure you have the flooding tab clicked on the 511 map to view all locations of flooding.
Never attempt to cross a water-covered road. Just 12 inches of moving water can sweep a vehicle off the road.
Do not ignore barricades or road closure signs.

Flash flooding can occur suddenly anywhere in the area.

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Always check current road conditions before traveling:
Visit the 511 Wisconsin website for the latest weather and road alerts.
Motorists should plan extra time for travel, use designated alternate routes, and exercise extreme caution in low-lying areas. Conditions may change rapidly.
For the latest updates, monitor the 511 Wisconsin website. Stay safe and drive smart when in doubt, turn around and find another way.
For real-time information, please check the 511 Wisconsin website or call 511.

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Wisconsin

Next Weathermaker to bring more thunderstorms to already flooded Northeast Wisconsin

Published

21 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

Next Weathermaker to bring more thunderstorms to already flooded Northeast Wisconsin

(WLUK) — More rain is on the way for Northeast Wisconsin.

Flood warnings are currently in effect for many area rivers and streams as recent rainfall has pushed some to reach flood level.

This morning, there’s a dense fog advisory in place.

Visibility could drop to a quarter mile in some places.

Today there’s a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms.

It will then become mostly sunny with a high near 66.

Tomorrow will be partly cloudy with a high of 70 before our Next Weathermaker brings showers and thunderstorms late in the day and into the evening.

Some of those storms could become severe with damaging wind, large hail and a few tornadoes.

Our area is in a level 2 and 3 out of 5 for severe weather risk.

If you see severe weather in your area and can safely take a photo or video, Chime In here:

After the rain tomorrow night, we should have a string of dry days, which will help with dropping high river levels.

Saturday we’ll see a mix of sun and clouds.

It will be windy with a high near 48.

Winds could gust to 35 mph out of the northwest.

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Click here for Director of Meteorology Pete Petoniak’s full forecast.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin basketball scores big with signings of Addie Deal, Kadidia Toure

Published

1 day ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin basketball scores big with signings of Addie Deal, Kadidia Toure

MADISON – Robin Pingeton and the Wisconsin women’s basketball program have made a statement signing during transfer portal season.

Addie Deal, 6-foot guard from Irvine, Calif., will be part of the Badgers’ 2026-27 roster. The former Iowa Hawkeye announced her choice on Instagram Wednesday, April 15. The Badgers announced the move in conjunction with the signing of Kadidia Toure, a 6-3 forward who played at Long Island this season.

Toure averaged a double-double for Sharks this season. Deal, meanwhile, comes with the cache of being a five-star recruit in high school.

She was a 2025 McDonald’s All-American and a member of the Big Ten’s all-freshman team this season.

Deal played in all 34 games for Iowa with three starts. She averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. She shot 39.4% overall and hit on 29.7% from 3-point range. She posted season highs of 20 points and five assists.

Toure was the Northeast Conference player of the year as well as a member of the league’s all-defensive team.

She started her career at James Madison and then played at Arizona State before joining Long Island’s program. She averaged 19.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season.

Toure led Long Island to a 21-11 record with a 14-4 mark in the Northeast Conference that tied the Sharks for second place. The team reached the final of the conference tournament.

The addition of Deal and Toure helps UW compensate for the loss of four players to the transfer portal.

Reserves Alie Bisballe and Jovana Spasovski announced their depatures from the program on social media. The departures of Breauna Ware and Kyrah Daniels were reported by On3.

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