MADISON, Wis. – Seven teams that competed in 2017 post-season tournaments highlight the 2018 non-conference schedule for the Wisconsin volleyball team. The Badgers play eight matches, including six against 20-plus win teams, prior to the Big Ten Conference season, head coach Kelly Sheffield announced on Thursday.

"It's a good, challenging pre-conference schedule, something we were hoping to be able to put together when we got started," Sheffield said. "Three of the weekends are either at home or within driving distance for our fans. Our home tournament has Texas and High Point, two NCAA tournament teams, coming to the Field House.

"This should be great preparation heading into the Big Ten and a schedule that will definitely challenge us."

The Badgers, who wrapped up the 2017 season with a 22-10 record and ranked 12^th in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, 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 hosts 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.

UW travels to the state of Texas for two individual matches, playing at No. 21 Baylor (24-7) on Sept. 7 and at North Texas (29-4) on Sept. 9. The Bears advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament while the Mean Green advanced to second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in 2017.

The Badgers wrap up the non-conference season, traveling to in-state rival Marquette (22-10) on Sept. 14-15 for the Marquette Invitational. The Golden Eagles lost to Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. UW will also face Illinois State (22-13), a team that competed in the second round of the NIVC in 2017, at the tournament.

Wisconsin returns 11 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, and Danielle Hart, who both redshirted last season. The Badgers return nearly 70 percent of their kills and nearly 85 percent of their blocks from last year.

NOTE: Season tickets for the 2018 season go on sale, Friday, June 1 at 8:30 a.m. More information on season ticket requests will be announced at a later date.
 

2018 Wisconsin Volleyball Non-Conference Schedule
Fri.-Sat.	Aug. 24-25	at Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minn.
		Florida State, Minnesota, North Carolina, Wisconsin
Sat.-Sun.	Sept. 1-2	HotelRED Invitational
		Wisconsin, Texas, High Point
Friday	Sept. 7	at Baylor, Waco, Texas
Sunday	Sept. 9	at North Texas, Denton, Texas
Fri.-Sat.	Sept. 14-15	at Marquette Invitational, Milwaukee, Wis.
		Marquette, Illinois State