#2 Wisconsin vs. TCU	#2 Wisconsin vs. #10 Baylor
Friday, Aug. 27 | 6 p.m.	Saturday, Aug. 28 | 6 p.m.
Watch on B1G+	Watch on Big Ten Network
Listen on U100.9FM	Listen on U100.9 FM
Live Stats	Live Stats
Follow on Twitter	Follow on Twitter

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin opens the 2021 season this weekend when it hosts the Big Ten-Big 12 Challenge in the UW Field House. The No. 2 Badgers take on TCU on Friday at 6 p.m. while seventh-ranked Minnesota faces No. 10 Baylor at 8:30 p.m. The teams switch opponents on Saturday with UW taking on the Bears and the Golden Gophers facing TCU at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively. Both matches on Saturday air live on the Big Ten Network.

1. UNANIMOUS AGAIN:  For the second straight season, the Badgers were selected as the unanimous pick to win the 2021 Big Ten Conference title, according to a preseason vote by league coaches. In addition, three Badgers—Sydney Hilley, Dana Rettke and Devyn Robinson—were named to the 14-player Preseason All-Big Ten team with Hilley and Rettke earning unanimous selection.

2. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:  It's been nearly 20 months since fans have been in the UW Field House for a match and there have been lots of changes during that time. From digital ticket to the upper deck being open to cashless concessions, things are changing! Check out our Know before you go tips to make sure you are prepared for this weekend's matches!

3. THAT'S A LOT OF RETURNING STATS:  UW returns more than 81% of its 2020 statistics. The Badgers return 95% of their blocks, 87% of their service aces, 85% of their digs, and 82% of their kills. Grad student Dana Rettke led UW in 2020 with 3.13 kills and 1.50 blocks per set. Sophomore Devyn Robinson had a team-best .426 hitting percentage while graduate student Lauren Barnes averaged 4.50 digs per set last season.

4. BATTLING BARNES:  Speaking of Barnes, did you know that she enters the season on an eight-match streak with 10-plus digs? Over the last eight matches of the 2020-21 season, the 5-foot-6 libero averaged 5.57 digs per set. On the season, she averaged 4.50 digs per set, which ranked third in the Big Ten.  

5. TOUGH SCHEDULE AWAITS:  The Badgers have a tough schedule in 2021, playing seven teams ranked among the preseason top 25 as well as four teams that receive votes. In addition to facing No. 10 Baylor this weekend, Wisconsin also hosts No. 3 and reigning NCAA champion Kentucky on Sept. 10.  UW faces Dayton, which is receiving votes in the poll, in back-to-back matches on Sept. 2-3 and travels to Marquette, another team receiving votes, on Sept. 12 and that's just the non-conference schedule!

6. SCOUTING THE TEAMS:  TCU was 4-17 in 2020-21, returning five starters and 11 letterwinners, including kill leader Julia Adams (3.35 kps), dig leader Dani Dennison (3.50 dps), setter McKenzie Nichols (10.10 aps) and block leader McKayla Myers (0.77 bps). Adams, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team with the Horned Frogs picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 this season. 

Baylor was 20-7 in 2020-21, advancing to the NCAA regional semifinals. The Bears are picked to finish second in the Big 12 this season with Yossiana Pressley and Avery Skinner, who is a fifth-year transfer from Kentucky, earned preseason All-Big 12 honors. Pressley ranked eighth nationally last season with 4.69 kills per set while Skinner averaged 3.81 kills per set for the reigning national champions.