Wisconsin is playing spring volleyball, but they are a long way from starting the regular season fall volleyball schedule. However, after just two games in Hawaii, one of the stars that head coach Kelly Sheffield brought in this offseason, Grace Lopez, tore her ACL in her right knee during practice. It was a non-contact injury, and it will sideline her for the 2025 season.
Gut punch for @BadgerVB and Grace Lopez as a torn ACL in her right knee will sideline her for the 2025 season. Transfer from Miami was set to succeed Anna Smrek at opposite.
— Dennis Punzel (@DennisPunzel) April 1, 2025
Grace Lopez tore her ACL in a practice, and it will keep her out next season
Grace Lopez transferred from the University of Miami in the offseason and was one of Kelly Sheffield's big splashes. She is a two-time honorable mention AVCA All-American and earned All-ACC Second Team honors last season. She was poised to be a big part of the Badgers' 2025 season as they look to make a deeper postseason run this next season.
Lopez, a 6'1" opposite hitter, had 32 aces and 80 blocks last season for Miami. She has gotten better each season playing volleyball collegiately and was looking to make another big jump as a Badger. She still has two years of eligibility left, and this injury may have changed her years to play those two seasons, but she will still be able to be a Wisconsin Badger for two years after she heals.
She was part of a really impressive offseason transfer class featuring Grace Egan from Ohio State, Mimi Colyer from Oregon, and Jada Cerniglia from Northern Illinois. These star players were being added to an already impressive returning group of players. Because of that, Wisconsin will ultimately be fine for the 2025 season, and their goals shouldn't and won't change. They will still be set up well to make a big run both in the Big Ten season and then into the NCAA Tournament, but they will have to do it without Lopez until 2026.