Decelise Champion is one of the best players in the world, and she's a Badger. Yet, she hasn't suited up for the Badgers or played a single minute; that moment is coming soon. It's the big question that is on many Wisconsin Badger fans' minds. When does Champion arrive? And what will she bring to the team when she does arrive? These are both good questions; the first is easier to answer than the second.
Champion is currently stacking up awards in the international volleyball world. In June, she won "Best Opposite" at the NORCECA Women's Final Four. Her national team, Puerto Rico, also won the bronze medal. This last week, Puerto Rico didn't do as well as a team, finishing 5th in the international tournament after beating Mexico.
That's not the important part for Wisconsin fans; the important part is that Champion was the top-scorer in the entire tournament, winning an award for that accomplishment. She also won the "Second Best Spiker" award. There were only two players to win multiple awards: Champion and Sanchez Yanisleides, who won the "Best Libero" and "Best Digger" awards.
Remember, Champion is only 16 years old. She doesn't turn 17 until September. Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield doesn't want you to forget that either: "She's with a team right now that's got a bunch of 30-year-olds on it, and she's coming into a program that's got a bunch of teenagers on it." He goes on to say she's going to need that maturity as she comes into a roster and Wisconsin schedule that's already been going.
All that to say, she will fit in; she's too elite not to, but it will be a chemistry-in-process situation. This will adjust the rotation, but Champion also can score from a variety of positions and can be utilized specifically to neutralize specific players. Like if the Badgers had her for Olivia Babcock, that would be helpful. Speaking of which, we sort of answered the harder question; let's tackle the easier question.
When will Decelise Champion be at UW-Madison and ready to be part of the Badgers?
This answer actually is way more definite. Originally, when signing Champion when she reclassified to this year, the press release mentioned that she would finish her responsibilities to Puerto Rico's national team and then be with the Badgers in September.
However, when Puerto Rico was eliminated earlier, did that change the timeline? Does that mean she can come earlier? The answer is still no. Kelly Sheffield said the other day that she is moving onto campus "the day before classes start." Which means September 1.
At that point, though, she will be exclusively a Badger and part of the program. That also means she will miss both the No. 5 Stanford match and the No. 4 Pitt match. The first match that Badger fans may see her is when Wisconsin hosts No. 17 Florida. Though that's also her first day as a Badger, so don't count on seeing her on the court. Sheffield wouldn't throw her immediately into the fray.
Thus, her first real contest may be either September 3 with Auburn or September 11 with No. 8 Texas A&M.
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