Wisconsin volleyball has taken a couple of licks lately with injuries. Important injuries too, to setter Charlie Fuerbringer and outside hitter Grace Egan. The Badgers are now preparing for what it will look like to take on 19th-ranked Penn State without two of their best players.
It was already setting up to be a tough showdown with the national champions, but it got a bit harder when Fuerbringer went down against Michigan, and Egan has not quite gotten back from her own injury. A couple of questions will guide the discussion the rest of the way: What are the latest updates on these two injuries? And where does Wisconsin turn?
Injury updates for Grace Egan and Charlie Fuerbringer
Related: Kelly Sheffield’s latest comment on Charlie Fuerbringer will worry Wisconsin fans
Grace Egan was injured during practice a couple of weeks ago. While it was originally assumed she would just miss a few matches, this will now be her fifth. According to Kelly Sheffield, she's still not quite ready, "I’m not sure if we’re day-to-day or week-to-week right now. Probably more of the latter than day-to-day.”
Sheffield did say that she was getting some wall work in, which means she's getting close, but the comment that she may still be a couple of weeks away is not fun.
As for Fuerbringer, she was injured against Michigan in a block at the net when a Michigan player and Fuerbringer both attacked the ball at the same time. She injured her shoulder in that play and later returned to the bench with a sling and some ice. Her timeline is appearing to be even longer.
The last time Sheffield addressed this, he said that they would run more tests and get a clearer timeline. He has yet to update that timeline, but in the original statement, he said he was hoping it would be "weeks, not months." The difference is extreme, as weeks may put her out for the rest of the regular season, and months would include the postseason.
The Badgers have to prepare to be without both for at least Penn State but forseeably even longer.
Options for Wisconsin with Egan and Fuerbringer out
Sheffield has been clear about who needs to step into both empty spots. With Fuerbringer out, he says that true freshman Addy Horner will have to carry the load. There's a reason they went out and recruited one of the best setters in the recruiting class, if not THE best, in Horner. Sheffield said, It's hard to lose Fuerbringer, but remarked about the Wisconsin depth, "It’s an important loss because of her talent, but it’s also why you have depth."
For Egan, another true freshman, Madison Quest has had many more opportunities and has been really solid in Egan's absence. She's still growing into the role, but she's holding it down admirably, and the Badgers haven't noticed a drop-off.
The depth of Wisconsin will be tested on Friday as they take on one of the top teams in the country and one of the best outside hitters in all of volleyball, Kennedy Martin. The true freshman will have to be ready and fired up to bring down the Nittany Lions without their two stars.