Madison, WI – Wisconsin volleyball was chosen as the Big Ten Conference favorite for the 2019 season, voted on by the Big Ten coaches and announced on Monday.
After finishing the 2018 season tied for third place in the conference at 15-5, the Badgers are entering what looks to be another successful season, and are chasing their first Big Ten title since 2014.
Wisconsin begins its 2019 campaign ranked No. 5 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). It is the fifth straight season the Badgers will open the year ranked among the top 10 teams in the country.
At the top spot, the Badgers were picked to finish ahead of the No. 2 team in the country, Nebraska, as well as reigning Big Ten champion and third-ranked Minnesota. Penn State and Illinois were dubbed fourth and fifth, respectively.
The 14-player Preseason All-Big Ten Team includes two Badgers - junior
Dana Rettke with her second consecutive preseason selection and her first unanimous honor, and junior captain
Sydney Hilley, who were both recognized as All-Big Ten and AVCA All-Americans in 2018.
No. 5 Wisconsin (25-7 in 2018) opens the 2019 season on Friday-Saturday, competing in the sixth-annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. UW and No. 3 Minnesota (27-4) represent the Big Ten, taking on Florida State (19-10) and North Carolina (8-19) from the ACC in the tournament at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C. All matches air on ACC Network Plus.
2019 Big Ten Preseason Poll
- Wisconsin
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- Penn State
- Illinois
- Purdue
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Michigan State
- Maryland
- Indiana
- Northwestern
- Iowa
- Rutgers
2019 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
JACQUELINE QUADE, Sr., OH, Illinois
Erika Pritchard, Jr., OH, Maryland
Alexis Hart, Sr., OH, Minnesota
Taylor Morgan, Sr., MB, Minnesota
Stephanie Samedy, Jr., OPP, Minnesota
Nicklin Hames, So., S, Nebraska
Lauren Stivrins, Jr., MB, Nebraska
Lexi Sun, Jr., OH, Nebraska
Kaitlyn Hord, So., MB, Penn State
Jonni Parker, So., RS, Penn State
KENDALL WHITE, Sr., DS, Penn State
Blake Mohler, Sr., MB, Purdue
Sydney Hilley, Jr., S, Wisconsin
DANA RETTKE, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
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