Badgers in the pros

MADISON, Wis. – As the Wisconsin volleyball team prepares to begin its 2018 season, former Badgers Lauren Carlini, Haleigh Nelson, Kelli Bates, Romana Kriŝková and Julie Mikaelsen are also gearing up to compete in professional leagues overseas and Shelia Shaw is grinding out another successful season on the AVP circuit.

After leading USA Volleyball to a Pan American Cup championship while earning Most Valuable Player and Best Setter honors this summer, four-time All-American Lauren Carlini has signed with Igor Gorgonzola Volley for the 2018-19 season. Last season, Carlini made her professional debut with Savino Del Bene Volley and set her team to a second-place finish in the Women's Series A League with an 18-4 record. Located in Novara, Italy, Carlini's future team won the Women's Series A League during the 2017-18 season and claimed the 2018 A1 Italian Cup championship.

Haleigh Nelson and Kelli Bates will both begin their professional careers with Pays d Aix Venelles in the France Pro A League.

Nelson, a three-time All-American middle blocker for the Badgers from 2013-16, played one season of beach volleyball at LSU while working towards her master's degree in sports business before turning pro. During her season with the Tigers, Nelson picked up 15 wins while primarily playing on the Tigers' second-court team.

Bates finished up her career at Wisconsin last fall, helping the Badgers to their fifth-straight Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament. A six-rotation player, Bates was only the third UW player to record more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.

Also signing in the France Pro A League is 2014-16 Badger Kriŝková. The outside hitter is set to begin her second season in the pros after having a fantastic season with VK Dulka Liberec in the Czech league. Earlier this summer Kriŝková announced that she will be joining Quimper Volley 29 for the 2018-19 season.

Julie Mikaelsen returns home to Norway for her fourth professional season. She has signed with Koll Volley in Oslo after playing for Nurmon Jymy in Finland last year. Mikaelsen began her professional career in Denmark playing two seasons with Brᴓndby and has also seen time with the Norwegian National team.

AVP player and 2002-05 Wisconsin standout Sheila Shaw is currently competing in her 11th beach volleyball season. She and partner Lara Dykstra have competed in five AVP Pro Beach Tour tournaments so far in 2018 and hold an 8-10 record. Their best finish came in Seattle at the end of June where they placed fifth, falling to April Ross and Caitlin Ledoux.

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