Preview: Reigning National Champions, #1 Texas Volleyball season opener versus #3 Wisconsin

Back-to-back reigning National Champion, Texas Volleyball, will open their 2024 season on the road in Milwaukee over the holiday weekend facing two Top 20 teams. Viewers can catch the Longhorns play #3 Wisconsin on Sunday, September 1 at 11:30AM, followed by a match versus #18 Minnesota on Monday, September 2 at 6:30PM.

Filled with fresh memories from their last encounter in December, the then #5 Longhorns met the #3 Badgers in the NCAA Division I Semifinals and defeated Wisconsin in four sets.  The Texas victory came on the heels of their pulling the upset over then #2 Stanford and was the springboard for sealing their Championship over #1 Nebraska in the final.  The Badgers not only want redemption from the December match versus the Longhorns but in Wisconsin’s 2024 season opener this week, they were stunned by #6 Louisville in four sets.

The Badgers placed second in the Big 10 preseason poll and are returning the AVCA National Player of the Year, Big 10 Player of the Year and AVCA All American, Sarah Franklin (OH). The crew also boasts AVCA All-American middle blockers Anna Smrek (RS), Carter Booth and Devyn Robinson (RS).  The #1 setter from the 2024 class, Charlie Fuerbringer, will start and run the squad’s 5-1 offense. As Longhorn fans witnessed last season with a new setter, chemistry takes time to materialize but don’t discount a young, rising star.

#18 Minnesota finished unranked last season for the first time since 2014 after falling to Creighton in the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 32. For 2024, the Gophers will be battle-tested from the outset, facing four of the Top Five including #1 Texas on Labor Day. Head coach, Keegan Cook, is starting his second year at the helm and the team will be led by seniors, Melani Shaffmaster (S) and Lydia Grote (OPP).

Leading the Texas Longhorns in their quest to rack a third consecutive national title is Coach Jerritt Elliott.  In his 23 years on the Forty Acres, he holds a 589-114 record. His cast of returning stars include senior Madisen Skinner (OH), junior Emma Halter (L), and sophomore Ella Swindle (S), who will be joined by portal transfer from Kentucky, Reagan Rutherford (OPP).  All were named to the 2024 Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team where the Longhorns were also overwhelmingly selected for the #1 slot in the Coaches Poll as they make their Conference debut.