Kelly Sheffield had a major roster problem on his hands going into the season. The fact that he only had one libero on the roster was a haunting situation. Not that Kristen Simon can't handle the duties for the entire game, but the reality is that if she's ever injured or even dinged up, the Badgers are up a creek without a paddle. Sheffield has solved that issue by adding international libero Anna Bardaro.
Libero is one of those positions you can't really just throw another player into. Hitters, you can try them as the middle blocker or on the right side and see how they work. You can put them in the back row or the front. But libero is such a skilled position that other players who haven't played it recently can't just slide in.
Now, Sheffield has two, and that's a great number for the upcoming season. Bardaro is a solid addition to the program and will add plenty of value for Wisconsin.
#Badgers volleyball has picked up a commitment from Italian libero Anna Bardaro, she announced on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/FqxV4iaNNQ
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) April 22, 2026
International libero Anna Bardaro has signed with the Badgers for the 2026 season
Bardaro is good too; she's not just going to be a depth piece. She's going to push Simon and presumably even get opportunities as early as this season. She's played on the international circuit and is currently listed on the roster for the professional Italian team Cuneo Granda Volley in Serie A1. The 5'10" libero has also played on Italy's U21 team recently and helped reach the semifinals.
There's also a ton of trophies under her name. John Steppe lists, "Italian Cup, Italian Super Cup, CEV Women’s Champions League and World Club Championship titles." These came as she was part of the Imoco Volleyball Conegliano club.
Bardaro is 21 years old but has never played college volleyball, so she should be granted four years of eligibility if she wants it.
This is an important pickup for Sheffield and the Badgers not simply because of the extra libero on the roster but Sheffield does what he does better than anyone. He adds value up and down the roster. Bardaro has the ability to be a real factor for this team with championship aspirations.
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