As volleyball season fast approaches, the preseason polls and honors have all rolled out, and Wisconsin is featured all over the place. Both in the individual preseason watch lists and the team polls. There is a lot of anticipation for this new Badger team, and the eagerness for the season to start among fans is palpable. There is a ton of talent, but a lot of it is young or unproven, so it will be fascinating to watch Kelly Sheffield mold the team together.
Here's a breakdown of where exactly Wisconsin finds themselves in all the preseason lists.
No. 2 in the Big Ten
Wisconsin is picked to finish second in the Big Ten in the coaches poll. Even after a year of turnover for the Badgers and only really returning a few starters, the Badgers are still picked to be one of the top teams in the conference. The only team higher is Nebraska. Penn State, Purdue, and Minnesota are the next three teams behind the Badgers.
This is a big deal for Wisconsin as they've shown they've built a sustainable brand and volleyball team year after year. Nebraska went 20-0 last year and deserves the top spot but the Cornhuskers should feel the Badger breath on their necks.
Charlie Fuerbringer and Jaela Auguste are on the 2026 Big Ten preseason team
The Big Ten also released its preseason All-Big Ten team, and Wisconsin has two players on the list. Charlie Fuerbringer is arguably the best setter in the country (though don't tell Nebraska fans, I wrote this), and incoming middle blocker Jaela Auguste was a big part of Florida's success last season. Most of the other firepower for the Badgers comes from incoming freshmen, and it will be interesting to see who and when one of the young stars finds themselves on the Big Ten individual rankings.
Auguste and Fuerbringer also find themselves on the AVCA Player of the Year watchlist
To add to the preseason accolades for Fuerbringer and Auguste, they also find themselves as part of a group of players who could win the Player of the Year. This isn't just a Big Ten award but in all of volleyball. 20 players across the country are picked in the preseason as candidates to be on a "watchlist" for Player of the Year.
Both of these honors for Fuerbringer and Auguste are important for Wisconsin, as the national spotlight already hovers over the Badgers; it puts it even more on Wisconsin. It's very rare that a setter or a middle blocker wins the award, but the inclusion on the list shows the elite status of the pair.
Wisconsin begins the season in a little over a week when they host the alumni match on August 8 inside the UW Fieldhouse and on B1G+ at 6 pm.
Add us as a preferred source on Google