The introduction of four freshman, including the starting setter and libero, led to a rocky start for the Badgers. Now they are looking ready for another deep tournament run.
By Nathan Denzin, BADGER STRIPES
Wisconsin started the year worse than any year since 2019, losing four of their first 11 matches. That is not how fans are used to seeing their team.
The Badgers have gone through some growing pains while working major freshmen contributors into the rotation and adjusting roles for some established veterans. Sometimes it gets a little ugly, like in the 3-2 loss against rival No. 18 Minnesota.
We’ve all grown accustomed to three- or four-loss seasons and deep runs in the NCAA tournament – if not a title – which is not usually a sustainable pace for most programs. Despite retaining the National Player of the Year in Sarah Franklin, it seemed like the Badgers were finally coming back down to earth.
The biggest change: the Badgers lost both of their established setters, essentially the quarterbacks on the floor, to graduation. Izzy Ashburn and MJ Hammill, who had been stalwarts of the team for years. The pair combined for more than 1,300 assists in 2023, or more than 84% of the team’s total.
Stepping in for that duo is heralded freshman Charlie Fuerbringer, who has totaled 466 assists, about 75% of the team’s total in 2024. Fuerbringer has been lights out on the court, recording more than 10 assists per set, but adjusting to a new setter after five years of continuity has had hiccups.
Julia Orzol has had to make the biggest adjustment after playing primarily libero for the Badgers in 2023. She’s transitioned into more of an outside hitter with the arrival of another freshman, libero Lola Schumacher taking the second spot with Gulce Guctekin. That’s led to a lot more attacking chances at the net for Orzol.
Through 13 matches, about a third of the season, Orzol already has 12 more hitting errors than in all of 2023. But she also has 60 more kills than she did a year ago, on pace to match her 2022 total when she also played as an outside hitter.
Orzol is not the only veteran star to have struggled. Reigning player of the year Sarah Franklin, Anna Smrek and Carter Booth have also hit errors at a higher rate than in 2023.
Along with Fuerbringer and Schumacher, fellow freshman Saige Damrow and Trinity Shadd-Ceres have played in a handful of sets. Those four mark the most freshman playing significant minutes since 2021, when the Badgers won the National Championship.
All the new faces have created chances for growth, which has led to other positive signs for Wisconsin.
Despite an uptick in errors, Franklin has recorded double-digit kills in 11 matches. That forms a deadly duo with the 6’9″ Smrek, who has been in double-digits five times. That should only get better as the year goes on.
Plus, the Badgers four losses all came to top competition – three top-10 teams in the first three matches of the year and No. 18 Minnesota. While the loss to the rival Gophers was disappointing, Wisconsin is 9-1 since trio of losses to start the season.
In the last three matches against Northwestern, Rutgers and undefeated No. 25 Washington, the Badgers did not lose a single set.
In the win over the Huskies, Wisconsin had just four hitting errors over the three sets, cruising through at 25-8, 25-14, 25-21.
“It’s great that we have a coach that knows how much more we can do and he gets on us for it and that keeps us wanting more every time,” Franklin said after the match. “I think all of us on the team just want to get better no matter what.”
Wisconsin has matches against Maryland and Northwestern this weekend, but their next big test will come against No. 11 Oregon on October 18 in the Field House. If the Badgers can keep building momentum and roll through the Big Ten season, this team can still make a deep run in December.
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