The Wisconsin Badgers are set for a big season in volleyball this year and are looking to go deeper than even last year. The roster is deeper, more talented, and younger than last season, but one of the returning veterans is Grace Lopez. The redshirt junior was injured all season in 2025 and was unable to be part of Sheffield's plans. This year, that won't be the case; Lopez is back, and she's bringing extra pop in her attacks.
Sheffield spoke at Big Ten Media Days for volleyball and shared an exciting update about Lopez. She is finally back in six-on-six scrimmages and drills. She's been on the sidelines for over a year and has been unable to play volleyball as she recovered. Even this spring/summer, she was unable to participate; now Sheffield says she's almost back and will be ready to deliver at the start of the season.
Sheffield's optimism about Lopez is encouraging, as she's the only true right-side hitter on the roster. She was also the only RS last year, too, and so when she went down, Grace Egan slid to her spot to help out, but with Lopez back, Egan can resume a lot of her normal outside hitter role. Though don't be surprised if Egan continues to find some playing time at right side, as she excelled in it last season.
Encouraging update from #Badgers coach Kelly Sheffield on Grace Lopez’s recovery: pic.twitter.com/A7CzHbIX8q
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) August 3, 2026
Kelly Sheffield says that Grace Lopez has a lot of 'pop' in her swings this season
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Lopez was a force as a sophomore hitter at the University of Miami, and then she transferred to play for the Badgers. That opportunity never came due to her injury; she received a medical redshirt last season and is now geared up to play in 2026. Sheffield notes that because of that injury, many of her teammates have never seen her play. "Her effort defensively has surprised me the last couple of days. Her arm and how the ball pops off her hand." Sheffield said, "Most of these guys haven't seen her play; most of her teammates haven't seen her or played with her."
Sheffield went on to remark that when her teammates have seen her take "big swings," they are astounded at her ability. She's a force, and she has a ton of power behind her. The star from Puerto Rico is going to be huge for the Badgers this year, and she's part of a relatively small veteran core for Sheffield.
She joins Charlie Feurbringer, Jaela Auguste, Grace Egan, and Eva Travis as the main veterans. You may include a player like Anna Bardaro as a veteran with all her overseas experience and her age, but she's new to the Badgers and didn't get a chance to play in the spring. The crazy part of how the Badgers are built this season is that there isn't a senior to be found. It's a young group that has at least two seasons growing together.
That's great for Wisconsin and having a player like Lopez ready to go is monumental.
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