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MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin (31-3 in 2021) opens its 2022 season by traveling to Fort Worth, Texas, for the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge, hosted by TCU. The third-ranked Badgers and No. 5 Minnesota (23-9) represent the Big Ten, facing TCU (8-18) and No. 16 Baylor (22-6) in the tournament. UW opens the tournament against Horned Frogs on Friday at 7 p.m., live on ESPN+. Wisconsin takes on the Bears on Saturday at 4 p.m.
1. SEASON OPENERS: UW is 34-14 all-time in season openers, including a 6-2 away record. Wisconsin swept TCU in its 2021 opener in the UW Field House and has won six-straight season openers.
2. WINNING STREAK ON THE LINE: The Badgers put their 12-match winning streak on the line as they open the 2022 season. Wisconsin ended the 2021 season winning its last 12 matches, including the NCAA Championship. Â
3. TOUGH SCHEDULE AHEAD: The Badgers have a tough schedule in 2022, playing 13 matches against teams ranked or receiving votes in the 2022 preseason AVCA poll. During the non-conference season, Wisconsin faces No. 11 Kentucky, No. 15 Florida, No. 16 Baylor and receiving votes Marquette. In Big Ten play, Wisconsin will play 12 matches against teams ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll.
4. WHITE EDGES RED: An exciting third set gave UW fans just what they were looking for at the Badgers' annual intrasquad scrimmage. The White team defeated the Red team, 25-15, 17-25, 33-31 last Saturday afternoon in the UW Field House. Sophomore Julia Orzol and freshman Ella Wrobel led the White team with 16 kills and 14 kills, respectively, as the team hit .310 (42 kills -11 errors- 100 attempts). Transfer Sarah Franklin led the Red team with 14 kills as that squad hit .231 (44-19-108). Three players on the Red team added nine kills as Jade Demps, Liz Gregorski, and Devyn Robinson all just missed double figures.
5. WELCOME BACK DAN: The Badgers welcome the return of middle blocker Danielle Hart, who missed most of the 2021 season with a torn ACL. The 6-foot-4 Hart was having the best season of her career last year before tearing her ACL on Sept. 14. She was hitting a season-best .427 while averaging a season-best 2.32 kills per set. Hart was also averaging a season-best 1.16 blocks per set. A two-plus year starter, Hart was a 2019 VolleyballMag.com Honorable Mention All-America and was a 2019 and 2020 Second-Team All-Big Ten pick.
6. SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: A new era for TCU begins under first-year head coach Jason Williams, who spent the last seven years as an assistant coach at Baylor. The Horned Frogs return 10 letter winners from last fall but the 2022 roster features an equal number of newcomers. Senior Julia Adams earned Preseason All-Big 12 accolades for the second straight year. The 6-foot-3 outside hitter earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021 after leading TCU with 3.03 kills per set. Adams is one of six seniors featured on the Horned Frogs' 2022 roster. The others are transfers Sabrina Sustala (Texas A&M) and Callie Williams (Baylor), middle blocker Mykayla Myers and soon-to-be four-year TCU letter winners Afedo Manyang and Audrey Nalls.
Baylor enters the post-Yossi era as three-time All-American Yossiana Pressley has graduated, one of 11 seniors from last year's team. But eighth-year head coach Ryan McGuyre adds six newcomers on the squad in 2022, including a freshman class that was ranked fourth nationally by VolleyballMag.com. Baylor's short list of experienced returners includes a pair of preseason All-Big 12 selections in fifth-year senior outside hitter Lauren Harrison and 6-5 senior middle blocker Kara McGhee. Also back are libero Lauren Briseño and outside hitter Elise McGhee, who were both named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
