The No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers volleyball squad just wrapped up a perfect 2-0 run in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge, including a gritty sweep of Auburn on September 3, a victory they pulled off without outside hitter Grace Egan even stepping on the court. Fewer than 24 hours after an absolute five-set thriller against No. 17 Florida, the Badgers showed serious resolve at the UW Field House, improving their 2026 record to 3-3.
Two Wins, Tons of Heart
The Big Ten/SEC Challenge was no cakewalk, but Wisconsin battled through it like true competitors. First up, they faced No. 17 Florida in a five-set war that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Then, just hours later on September 3, they took down unranked Auburn in three straight sets: 25-23, 25-17, 25-20. That Auburn match was tighter than the scores might suggest, featuring a wild 17 ties and eight lead changes before Wisconsin ultimately secured each set. Pulling off a 3-0 sweep against any opponent is tough, but doing it with that kind of back-and-forth action, and without one of your key players in Egan, really shows what this team is made of.
Growth on Display
Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield isn’t sugarcoating things. After the Auburn win, he admitted the team is “playing a lot of really, really close sets, and things happen.” We all saw it, those sets were tight! But Sheffield sees the big picture, noting the “back-and-forth element to it” and how “we’re growing.” This No. 5 team might be sitting at 3-3 early in the season, but the coach likes “where we’re at” and how they’re “learning.” It’s clear they are figuring things out on the fly, grinding through challenging matches, and getting better with every swing.
Who Stepped Up?
With Grace Egan sidelined for the Auburn match, you know other players had to step up, especially after that marathon against Florida. Players like outside hitter Audrey Flanagan, who was seen hitting the ball with force, and libero/defensive specialist Anna Bardaro, making key saves, were crucial against Florida. Kristen Simon, another libero/defensive specialist, was involved in those intense Florida exchanges. Outside hitters Grace Lopez and Eva Travis were also key players during the Florida match. This collective effort is exactly what Sheffield is talking about when he mentions the team “growing.” It takes everyone performing in those “close sets” to come out on top, and they clearly showed that depth and determination across both challenge matches.
The Badgers are “growing” and “learning,” and that’s the real story for this No. 5 squad. They just went 2-0, hitting that 3-3 record, and the journey is just getting started. Keep an eye on how this team continues to develop through these early challenges.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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