Sheffield on Kraft: "Deahna is a fiery competitor who absolutely loves playing, and has a complete game. She's got great ball control, can hit with range, and reads the game well. She'll fit in great with our team and is excited about helping this team get better."
Of Note: Transfer from Pepperdine, where she competed three-plus seasons in sand volleyball ... ranks 11
th in Pepperdine sand volleyball record books for most individual career wins with 67, amassing career record of 67-30 ... aided the Waves to two-straight West Coast Conference Championship crowns and a pair of top-five finishes in the NCAA Tournament, including a runner-up finish in 2017 ... earned a degree in sports administration from Pepperdine
Honors: 2019
DiG Magazine Second-Team All-American ... 2018 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American ... 2018 VolleyballMag.com Second-Team All-American ... 2018 West Coast Conference Defender of the Year ... 2018 and 2019 All-WCC First Team ... March 2018 WCC Pair of the Month ... 2017 WCC All-Freshman Team
2020-21: Played in 15 of 16 matches, started six, and 39 sets ... recorded career-high 11 kills at Illinois (Jan. 29) ... recorded career-high 31 attempts at Illinois (Jan. 29) ... recorded career-high .500 attack pct vs. Purdue (Jan. 22) ... recorded career-high two assists at Illinois (Jan. 29) ... recorded career-high two aces at Michigan State (Feb. 21) ... recorded career-high eight digs at Michigan State (Feb. 21) ... tied career-high blocks at Indiana (Feb. 13) ... recorded career-high 11.5 points at Illinois (Jan. 29)
2020 (at Pepperdine): Went 3-4 at No. 1 position with teammate Brook Bauer before season ended due to COVID 19
2019 (at Pepperdine): Finished second at the USA Collegiate Beach Championships alongside Brook Bauer … went 16-13 on the season,including a 4-4 mark at No. 1 and 12-9 record at No. 2 ... clinched six matches for Pepperdine with five from the No. 2 slot and one from the No. 1 spot … helped the Waves to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
2018 (at Pepperdine): Posted a 22-7 overall record alongside partner Corinne Quiggle, including a 14-1 record from the No. 2 position and an 8-6 output from the top-spot … clinched seven matches for the Waves with five occurring from the No. 2 position … won 14 matches by straight-set decisions including nine-consecutive from the No. 2 position during a 16-match winning streak … helped the team to a third-straight West Coast Championship and a top-five finish at the NCAA Championships … clinched the Waves 3-2 win over top-ranked USC early in the season to propel the Waves to a No. 1 national ranking for three weeks
2017 (at Pepperdine): Amassed a 26-6 overall dual record with partner Anika Wilson … posted a 14-6 record against nationally ranked opponents … led the Waves to a NCAA Championship runner-up finish and a second-consecutive West Coast Championship … earned a spot in the USAV Collegiate Beach Pairs Championship and went undefeated through pool play to advance to the elimination bracket … in the NCAA final against USC, Kraft and Wilson defeated Abril Bustamante and Joy Dennis 21-14, 21-17 in the first wave of competition ... duo defeated Hawai’i’s Ari Homayun and Carly Kan 9-21, 21-15, 15-9 to clinch the semifinal match and put the Waves in the NCAA final.
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time Metro League MVP ...Three-year letterwinner for coach Jake Putname ... played in 151 sets, putting away 772 kills, 44 blocks 382 digs and 125 service aces ...as a senior, totaled 403 kills on a .306 hitting percentage, while adding 65 aces, 21 blocks and 230 digs … also played soccer in high school and earned Rookie of the Year honors ... also played club volleyball with WVBA U16-18 Mizuno … 2016 AAU All-American ... finished third at the Las Vegas US Open and sixth at AAU Nationals … garnered Emerald City Classic 16 Open All-Tournament team honors … 2015 Emerald City U18 Open All-Tournament Team ... 2016 Emerald City MVP
PERSONAL: Daughter of Tom Kraft and Mary Kraft … has one sister, Carolyn (23) ... born Oct. 11 ... major is educational leadership and policy analysis
Career Highs
Kills: 11 at Illinois, 1/29/21
ATTEMPTS: 31 at Illinois, 1/29/21
ATTACK PCT: .500 (2-0-4) vs. Purdue, 1/22/21
Assists: 2 at Illinois, 1/29/21
Aces: 2 at Michigan State, 2/20/21
Digs: 8 at Michigan State, 2/21/21
Blocks: 1 (2x; MR at Indiana, 2/13/21)
Points: 11.5 at Illinois, 1/29/21
Why Wisconsin?
"I wanted to play for Wisconsin ever since I was in high school. I loved the hardworking and gritty culture of the team and the vibe of the city. My mom’s family is also from Wisconsin, so it gives me an opportunity to be closer with them."
Off the court with Deahna
First started volleyball: freshman year of high school
Most memorable volleyball match: I played in the NCAA final for beach volleyball my freshman year of college (in 2016). We lost the final by two points in the third but it still was one of the craziest experiences.
The best part of playing volleyball is: being able to incorporate your personality and style into the play.
My favorite thing about Wisconsin volleyball is: the people you are surrounded with just by being part of the team.
Before each match, I: before my undergrad matches I would listen to Natural by Imagine Dragons and visualize.
One word that describes the team: passionate.
One word that describes me: I like a challenge
What is the best thing you bring to the team? New perspective
Favorite thing to do off the court with my teammates is: get food
Most memorable volleyball achievement: finishing second in the NCAA tournament my freshman year.
Is there anything significant about your uniform number? I got No. 31 my freshman year at Pepperdine. I thought it was random but I liked the fact that someone super famous hadn’t made their imprint on the number yet. I like being original.
The best thing about the Field House is: the fans
My “Bucky” List is: I want to “Jump Around” at a football game.
Dream as a collegiate player: become an All American on the beach and in indoor
Post-college plans/goals: play professional beach volleyball or indoor volleyball at the highest level.
The best thing about Madison is: it is so close to the water.
What is your favorite Coach Sheffield saying? I just like how Coach Sheffield encourages me and believes in me.
What causes do you care about? BLM and mental health awareness
What does it mean to be a Badger?
"Being a Badger means being persistent in mastering one’s craft and putting oneself in the position to succeed in whatever they do."
