Badgers Add Two to 2025 Roster
May 20, 2025 | Volleyball
Volleyball adds two grad transfers in Cerniglia and Andrew
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin volleyball team has signed graduate transfers Jada Cerniglia and Alicia Andrew, announced today by head coach Kelly Sheffield.
The Badgers add depth to the roster by signing two graduate transfers in defensive specialists/libero, Jada Cerniglia, who played four years at Northern Illinois, while Alicia (Allie) Andrew is a four-year, seasoned, middle blocker from Baylor.
"I'm really excited to announce Jada and Allie will be joining our team," said Badger head coach Kelly Sheffield. "They are both mature, hard-working young women who will fit in great and help our team."
Jada and her family are no strangers to the city and the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The 5-foot-3 defensive specialist/libero is the fourth member of her immediate family to compete for Wisconsin. Her mother, Aleah (Coughlin), lettered with the volleyball team in 1993, while her father, Mike, played four years (1997-2001) with the men's hockey team. In addition to her parents, Jada's older brother, Mike, was a tight end for the Badgers in 2023.
The Middleton, Wisconsin native previously played four seasons at Northern Illinois, where she appeared in 74 matches with an average of 1.35 digs per set and tallied 23 total service aces.
"I've known Jada and her family for years," said Sheffield. "Her mom played for the program, and Jada grew up in and around the Field house. We've had a lot of turnover at the Libero position. Jada will come in having played the most college matches at the position and will be a great mentor to the younger players who are just starting their college careers. She is a positive ball of fire and brings the same energy every single day. I'm looking forward to getting in the gym with her."
Wisconsin also added Alicia Andrew, who spent four seasons with the Baylor Bears, redshirting her freshman season of 2021. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker totaled 70 matches with a career .353 hitting percentage, averaging 1.35 kills per set, and totaled 193.0 blocks for an average of 0.85 blocks per set. Andrew was named to the 2024 Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge All-Tournament Team, and in 2022 and 2023 earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors.
"Allie will be a big help right away for us at the middle position," added Sheffield. "She has played a lot of matches for a very good program. She had the third highest hitting percentage in Big 12 matches last year and had the most blocks on her team. One of the things that jumps out is the fact that she has gotten better every year of her career. She is a competitor and wants to come in here and have an impact."
The Badgers will kick off the 2025 season with the Opening Spike Classic at the Kohl Center on August 29 and August 31 of Labor Day weekend.
The Badgers add depth to the roster by signing two graduate transfers in defensive specialists/libero, Jada Cerniglia, who played four years at Northern Illinois, while Alicia (Allie) Andrew is a four-year, seasoned, middle blocker from Baylor.
"I'm really excited to announce Jada and Allie will be joining our team," said Badger head coach Kelly Sheffield. "They are both mature, hard-working young women who will fit in great and help our team."
Jada and her family are no strangers to the city and the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The 5-foot-3 defensive specialist/libero is the fourth member of her immediate family to compete for Wisconsin. Her mother, Aleah (Coughlin), lettered with the volleyball team in 1993, while her father, Mike, played four years (1997-2001) with the men's hockey team. In addition to her parents, Jada's older brother, Mike, was a tight end for the Badgers in 2023.
The Middleton, Wisconsin native previously played four seasons at Northern Illinois, where she appeared in 74 matches with an average of 1.35 digs per set and tallied 23 total service aces.
"I've known Jada and her family for years," said Sheffield. "Her mom played for the program, and Jada grew up in and around the Field house. We've had a lot of turnover at the Libero position. Jada will come in having played the most college matches at the position and will be a great mentor to the younger players who are just starting their college careers. She is a positive ball of fire and brings the same energy every single day. I'm looking forward to getting in the gym with her."
Wisconsin also added Alicia Andrew, who spent four seasons with the Baylor Bears, redshirting her freshman season of 2021. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker totaled 70 matches with a career .353 hitting percentage, averaging 1.35 kills per set, and totaled 193.0 blocks for an average of 0.85 blocks per set. Andrew was named to the 2024 Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge All-Tournament Team, and in 2022 and 2023 earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors.
"Allie will be a big help right away for us at the middle position," added Sheffield. "She has played a lot of matches for a very good program. She had the third highest hitting percentage in Big 12 matches last year and had the most blocks on her team. One of the things that jumps out is the fact that she has gotten better every year of her career. She is a competitor and wants to come in here and have an impact."
The Badgers will kick off the 2025 season with the Opening Spike Classic at the Kohl Center on August 29 and August 31 of Labor Day weekend.
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