The Wisconsin Badgers women's volleyball is the volleyball team representing the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Division I women's program. The university has a rich volleyball tradition, with origins dating back to 1974. They have had eleven head coaches since the team's inception. In the 2019 season, they ranked second in attendance among all Division 1 volleyball programs, averaging 7,052 fans over 17 matches.
Under coach John Cook, the Badgers achieved a 30-3 overall record, the best the team has achieved since the team's inception, the team had a bye to the second round, where they beat Central Florida 3–0, and in the Sweet Sixteen, the team beat Notre Dame 3–1. The team lost to Florida 3–2 in the Elite Eight.
1998
The Badgers' overall record was 30–5, and reached the Elite Eight. The Badgers beat Arkansas-Little Rock 3–0 in the first round, San Diego 3–0 in the second round, and UCSB 3–2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The team lost to Nebraska 3–2 in the Elite Eight.
2000
The Badgers, under head coachPete Waite, reached the NCAAnational final, finishing with an overall record of 33–4. The 7-seed Badgers defeated Bucknell 3–0 in the first round, Northern Iowa 3–1 in the second round, Kansas State 3–1 in the Sweet Sixteen, 15-seed UCLA 3–1 in the Elite Eight, and 3-seed USC 3–0 in the Final Four. The team fell just short of a national championship, falling to 1-seed Nebraska 3–2. The Nebraska side was coached by former Badgers head coach John Cook. Both Lizzy Fitzgerald and Sherisa Livingston made the Final Four All-Tournament team.
2004
Following 2 consecutive second-round losses, the team found themselves in the Elite Eight again, finishing with an overall record of 22–10. The 14-seed Badgers defeated Loyola 3–0 in the first round, Notre Dame 3–0 in the second round, and 3-seed Hawaii 3–2 in the Sweet Sixteen, before being shut out by Stanford in the Elite Eight.
2005
The following year, the team made the Elite Eight again, finishing with an overall record of 26–7. The 11-seed Badgers defeated Loyola 3–0 in the first round, California 3–0 in the second round, and 6-seed Notre Dame 3–2 in the Sweet Sixteen, before being knocked out by 3-seed and eventual champion Washington 3–0 in the Elite Eight.
2013
Following a disappointing period under Waite, head coach Kelly Sheffield, the former head coach of Albany and Dayton, was hired. In Sheffield's first season, the Badgers went 28–10. The 12-seed Badgers defeated Milwaukee 3–0 in the first round, California 3–0 in the second round, Florida State 3–1 in the Sweet Sixteen, and Purdue 3–1 in the Elite Eight. The team then became the lowest-seeded team to advance to the championship match, upsetting 1-seed Texas 3–1 in the Final Four. The "Cinderella" story, however, came to an end after being defeated by 2-seed Penn State in the championship. Deme Morales and Lauren Carlini made the Final Four All-Tournament team.
2014
The following year, the team went 31–3, the best record the team had ever achieved up to this point. Entering the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers were seeded 4th. The Badgers defeated Western Michigan 3–0 in the first round, Illinois State 3–0 in the second round, and Ohio State 3–2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The Badgers were beaten, however, by 5-seed Penn State in the Elite Eight. Penn State would go on to win the tournament.
2016
The team went 29–4, earning themselves a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers defeated Howard 3–0 in the first round, Washington State 3–0 in the second round, and Ohio State 3–2 in the Sweet Sixteen. The team lost to 6-seed Stanford, the eventual winners, with a score of 3–2.
Following a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017, the Badgers reached the Elite Eight once again in 2018. Following an overall record of 25–7, the 6-seed Badgers beat Green Bay 3–0 in the first round, Pepperdine 3–1 in the second round, and San Diego 3–0 in the Sweet Sixteen. The team lost to 3-seed Illinois 3–1 in the Elite Eight.
2019
The 2019 Badgers finished the season 27–7, and earned the fourth overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin swept Illinois State, UCLA, 13th seeded Texas A&M, and fifth seeded Nebraska to reach the Final-4. The Badgers defeated top seeded Baylor 3–1 in its third Final-4 appearance. In the NCAA Championship, Wisconsin fell to third seeded Stanford 3–0.
Results by season
All-Americans
In all, Wisconsin has 21 total AVCA All-Americans, including 4 first team All-Americans.
