(Full Schedule Below) - via Press Release
Four ranked teams from 2017, including reigning NCAA champion Nebraska, and six 2017 NCAA tournament teams will make appearances in the UW Field House as the Badgers released their 2018 Big Ten Conference schedule Tuesday.
The Badgers welcome in No. 1 Nebraska, No. 8 Michigan State, No. 10 Minnesota and No. 18 Purdue to their home court in 2018. The Huskers won the 2017 NCAA Championship while the Spartans advanced to the Elite Eight. Minnesota and Illinois contended for spots in the Sweet 16 while Purdue advanced to the second round and Michigan competed in the first round of the post-season classic.
The Badgers, who wrapped up the 2017 season with a 22-10 record and ranked 12th in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, tied for seventh in conference at 11-9.
Wisconsin returns 12 letterwinners and four starters, plus its libero, from the 2017 season. Dana Rettke was named the AVCA National Freshman of the Year while freshman Sydney Hilley and junior Tionna Williams earned honorable mention All-America recognition. UW also returns Molly Haggerty, a 2016 third-team All-American, Danielle Hart and Mariah Whalen, all three who redshirted last season.
UW returns nearly 70 percent of its kills and nearly 85 percent of its blocks from last year.
Wisconsin opens the Big Ten season on Sept. 19 when Ohio State (15-16 overall, 8-12 Big Ten) comes to town for the 27th-annual Steve Lowe Night. The season-opening week continues with a match against Rutgers (5-27, 0-20) on Sept. 22.
After four straight road matches, the Badgers return home to host Northwestern (14-18, 4-16) on Oct. 12 and No. 17 Illinois (23-11, 12-8) on Oct. 13. No. 1 Nebraska (32-4, 19-1) comes to Madison on Oct. 19 followed by a match against Iowa (18-15, 7-13) on Oct. 21.
UW wraps up the home Big Ten season with four straight matches in late October and early November. A Border Battle against No. 10 Minnesota (28-6, 15-5) will highlight Halloween night on Oct. 31. The Badgers host Michigan (21-12, 11-9) on Nov. 9 before No. 18 Purdue (23-10, 12-8) and Indiana (12-20, 1-29) on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, respectively.
The Badgers open the non-conference season, competing in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Aug. 24-25. Wisconsin and No. 10 Minnesota represent the Big Ten, taking on Florida State (18-11) and North Carolina (14-14) from the ACC. The Seminoles lost in the first round of the 2017 NCAA tournament.
Wisconsin's home opener is the HotelRED Invitational on Sept. 1-2 in the UW Field House. The Badgers face No. 5 Texas (27-3), an NCAA Elite Eight team, and High Point (24-8), an NCAA first-round team, in the annual tournament.
Season Tickets on sale
Season tickets for the 2018 Wisconsin volleyball season go on sale June 1. Current season ticket holders may pay for their season tickets, request a seat change, or request a switch from GA to Reserved seating at this time. Tickets may be ordered online at UWBadgers.com or over-the-phone by calling 1-800-GO-BADGERS. UW-Madison students may purchase a Red Card beginning June 11.
Prospective new season ticket holders
To request 2018 season ticket information, please fill out the form here. Current season tickets SHOULD NOT fill out this survey.