The "take on all the top teams in volleyball" experiment for Wisconsin volleyball has not gone great. The Badgers are 1-3 on the season, and all the losses haven't been very close. Yet, the Badgers also did take down the Louisville Cardinals. Which may end up mattering as we consider the new AVCA Rankings for Week 1.
The Badgers are ranked at No. 5 in the latest poll. Now, if you are curious, they were ranked No. 6 before the season. Yup, Wisconsin actually rose a spot in the rankings after losing three times. Why? Well, the national view (voters' view) of Wisconsin volleyball is coming into clearer focus. But also the view of the opponents they have played. We can dive into that.
Wisconsin has now played the best teams, officially except No. 1 Nebraska
Wisconsin's losses are against Kentucky, Pitt, and Stanford. The new rankings have Pittsburgh at No. 2, Kentucky at No. 3, and Stanford at No. 4, with Wisconsin now at No. 5. This means the view of Wisconsin also comes from the competition that they have played. Wisconsin's only losses are against top-4 teams.
Their win also comes against a No. 6 ranked team. Wisconsin is clearly being judged by its competition. Winning against No. 6 and losing to 2, 3, and 4...puts Wisconsin at 5? Sure, why not?
Week 1 @AVCAVolleyball / Taraflex Dl Women's Volleyball Top 25 🏐#NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/vk12GEISk8
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) August 31, 2026
Wisconsin volleyball is also viewed by their potential
Related: 5 crucial reasons to stay optimistic about Wisconsin volleyball's season
Volleyball voters are savvy because they are fellow coaches. It's not like football voters, where there are always a few idiots in the poll thinking up the whole thing. Volleyball voters know what they are looking at and working with. Wisconsin is clearly viewed as one of the best teams in the country, and the voters know that Wisconsin is working against the grain so far this season.
Not just the competition. The people evaluating Wisconsin know there have been injuries, chemistry issues, and even youthfulness plaguing the Badgers right now. Wisconsin wasn't knocked down because the talent and potential are clearly there.
When voters look down that list, they are asking, who behind Wisconsin can beat them? Louisville didn't. What about Arizona State, SMU, Texas, Creighton? Maybe, but the talent (besides arguably Texas) is better at Wisconsin than any of those other programs. Both Arizona State and Creighton have transfers from Wisconsin looking for more playing time.
Thus, Wisconsin should be ranked lower; there's no doubt. Three losses with only four matches is bad; it's a rough start, and the Badgers probably should have been penalized for it. However, the AVCA still believes in Wisconsin and, in many ways, so should you. Now is not the time to give up on the Badgers, and there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic. All the goals for Wisconsin are still in front of them.
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