Carter Booth’s offseason growth has Kelly Sheffield making big claims

Wisconsin volleyball is now officially underway as they began practices this week. The team is ready to make a run this season after falling in the Elite Eight last season. Part of their success will depend on the growth of star middle blocker Carter Booth. Coach Kelly Sheffield heaped tons of praise on her while speaking with the media over the last few days.

Sheffield says that her jump from year to year is remarkable. That's usually what you say about younger players from their freshman to sophomore year, but Sheffield says she's grown so much she's "ready to be one of the best players in the country."

Carter Booth may end up being the breakout star for Wisconsin this season

Booth was impressive as a junior with five matches of double-digit kills, 1.35 blocks, and 1.7 kills per set. Both of those stats ranked among the top in the Big Ten last season. If she is taking a leap from there, watch out. She may be in the running for National Player of the Year.

She wasn't one of the players listed on the watch list for that award, though a couple of her teammates are on the list. Transfer Mimi Colyer from Oregon and sophomore setter Charlie Fuerbringer.

It's actually part of what Sheffield quotes as a significant reason Booth is ready to take a leap this year, the fact that Fuerbringer is now a sophomore. There's more familiarity with her sets, and she is more familiar with her hitters. There will be a big jump for her this season too, as she finds her teammates and now has a year under her belt, setting the stage for many of them.

This season is setting up to be a special one, and even though the Badgers suffered an early frustration with the injury loss of transfer Grace Lopez, there are others ready to step in and help Wisconsin return to glory.