MADISON, Wis. — The No. 6 Wisconsin volleyball team will travel to Waco, Texas for the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. Wisconsin will face off against TCU on Friday afternoon at 4 pm. The following night the Badgers are slated to play No. 23 Baylor at 7 pm. Both matches will be aired on ESPN+.

1. LAST TIME OUT: What everyone knew was going to be a difficult schedule to start the 2024 season, has proved to be just that, as the Badgers now stand at 0-3. After Louisville, the Badgers looked to improve, in a rematch of the National semifinal match from last December, against Texas. With almost the same script, UW fell in four sets to the Longhorns after a strong start, the Longhorns took over and dominated. The next day, Wisconsin hit .341 against No. 5 Stanford, but it still wasn't enough. Stanford beat UW 3-1 at the State Farm Women's College Volleyball Showcase.

2. NOT SO SECRET WEAPON: In three matches, outside hitter, Sarah Franklin has totaled 60 kills on 175 attempts, hitting .229. Franklin is averaging 5.0 kills/set and 5.29 points/set. The next closest is Devyn Robinson with 25 kills and 59 attempts.

3. TIME TO GROW: In its first three matches of the season, the Badgers have taken on the No. 6, 1 and 5 ranked teams in the country and have lost all three matches. The 0-3 marks the first time since 1990; however, despite the 0-3 start, Wisconsin earned its first Big Ten Title, and qualified for its first NCAA Tournament in 1990. UW finished 29-8, 16-2 (B1G) that season.

4. NEW KIDS SETTLING IN: Freshmen Charlie Fuerbringer, Trinity Shadd-Ceres and Lola Schumacher all saw the court as starters at some point over the weekend. In the match against Texas, Shadd-Ceres recorded six kills and three digs, while Fuerbringer set a career-high 43 assists. Schumacher added a team-high 16 digs.

5. SCOUTING THE HORNED FROGS: Wisconsin leads TCU 4-0 overall, all sweeps, with the most recent matchup coming last August in the Big Ten/Big 12 challenge. Outside hitter Melanie Parra was named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, Parra averaged 4.38 kills per set and earned unanimous First Team All-Big 12 honors and AVA Third team All-American honors. Her teammate Jaylyn Gibson was also named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team.

6. SCOUTING THE BEARS: Returning for Baylor for their senior seasons will be Lauren Briseño and Elise McGhee. Both landed a spot on the Big 12 Preseason team. Briseño, the starting libero for the Bears and averaged 3.12 digs per set. Outside hitter Elise McGhee tallied double digit kills in 22 matches last season and was named to the 2023 All-Big 12 First Team. The Badgers and Bears are tied up at three apiece in their overall record. In the most recent matchup Wisconsin beat Baylor 3-1 in Minneapolis at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge.