Volleyball releases 2023 non-conference schedule

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MADISON, Wis. – Head coach Kelly Sheffield announced the nine-match 2023 Wisconsin volleyball non-conference schedule on Monday. The Badgers play five matches against teams ranked in the top 25 of the final 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association coaches' poll and eight matches against teams that participated in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin plays one of its toughest non-conference schedules with eight of nine matches against opponents that ranked in the top 60 of the final 2022 NCAA RPI.

"I like the schedule that is in front of us," Sheffield said. "We will be playing teams with styles that are very different from each other. I can see every one of these teams in the NCAA tournament this year."

Season opens with exhibition

Instead of the annual intrasquad scrimmage, the Badgers open the season with an exhibition match again UIC on Aug. 19. A recent NCAA rule change allows teams to compete against another Division I opponent in preseason exhibition play.

Wisconsin's official season opener is Aug. 25-26 at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge in Minneapolis. UW and Minnesota represent the Big Ten Conference, facing No. 15 Baylor (25-7 in 2022) and TCU (17-11) from the Big 12 Conference, in back-to-back matches. The Bears were 2022 NCAA Sweet 16 participants while the Horned Frogs fell to Wisconsin in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Next, the Badgers travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for back-to-back matches against the Razorbacks (21-9) on Aug. 30 and Aug. 31. No. 25 Arkansas advanced to the second of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

"I like that we are adding a home exhibition match against another team instead of an intrasquad scrimmage then opening up the season on the road with two great programs in Baylor and TCU will be a challenge," said Sheffield. "I also like the back-to-back matches against Arkansas. It'll be interesting to see the adjustments made against a really good team from one night to the next."

Three straight matches at home

Wisconsin opens its home season with three straight matches, beginning on Sept. 3. UW faces Tennessee (17-14) on Sept. 3 in the UW Field House. The Volunteers lost to Purdue, 3-2, in the first round of 2022 NCAA Tournament play.

The Badgers also host Arizona (16-15) and Miami (Fla.) (19-11) on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8, respectively. The Wildcats have a new head coach in Charita Stubs while the Hurricanes fell in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

"Our home opener will be against a Tennessee team that has a ton of firepower," Sheffield added. "And then two more home matches against Arizona and Miami – very good programs with great coaches."

Road matches wrap up the non-conference season

UW wraps up the non-conference season with two road matches.

Wisconsin takes on No. 13 Marquette (29-4) in the first ever NCAA volleyball match at Firserv Forum in Milwaukee, looking to break UW's regular-season attendance record set last year. The Golden Eagles lost to eventual national champion Texas in the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16.

The Badgers wrap up the non-conference season with a road trip to No. 12 Florida (25-6) on Sept. 17. The Gators lost to Pitt, 3-1, in the NCAA Sweet 16 in Madison last season.

"We go an hour down the road to play Marquette in Fiserv, in a match that we are hoping to get more than the 16,833 fans when we broke the attendance record last season," explained Sheffield. "Then looking forward to closing out the non-conference schedule at Florida."