Wisconsin volleyball ranked fourth in NCAA committee’s in-season Top 16
The Badgers sit behind Nebraska, Pitt and Kentucky in an early look at possible tournament seedings, with their next match scheduled against Washington.
Wisconsin’s women’s volleyball team was ranked fourth in the NCAA committee’s in-season Top 16, announced during the Florida–Texas match on Sunday, Oct. 18. The 13-5 Badgers sit behind three teams in an early indication of potential tournament seedings ahead of Selection Sunday on Nov. 29. The committee considered matches played through Saturday, Oct. 17, for this ranking.
How Wisconsin compares with the top seven
Nebraska led the list at 19-0, followed by Pitt at 17-1 and Kentucky at 15-3. Wisconsin was placed ahead of Florida, which was fifth at 14-2, SMU, sixth at 14-4, and Louisville, seventh at 18-2. The order shows that the committee’s in-season ranking did not simply follow teams’ win-loss records.
The committee considered 64 teams and weighed factors including strength of schedule, wins over top-10 opponents and head-to-head results, according to NCAA.com. Its published account gives those general criteria but no Wisconsin-specific breakdown of how they produced fourth place. This is the third year the in-season reveal has included 16 teams; before 2024, it listed only 10.
Wisconsin’s form and next match
Badgers Wire reported that Wisconsin had beaten Iowa in four sets, moving to 7-1 in Big Ten play, and had won eight of its previous 10 matches. The outlet said all five Badgers losses had come against ranked opponents, none ranked lower than No. 9. The NCAA ranking’s Oct. 17 cutoff should be kept distinct from that account of Wisconsin’s recent form.
Wisconsin’s lone Big Ten loss was to Nebraska, Badgers Wire reported. The Cornhuskers’ unbeaten record put them first in the committee’s reveal. Wisconsin’s next scheduled match is at home against No. 20 Washington on Friday, Oct. 23, according to Badgers Wire; that fixture is still ahead of the team, rather than part of the record assessed for the Oct. 18 list.
The NCAA describes the October reveal as an early look at possible seeds, with the tournament field due to be selected on Nov. 29. Its published schedule places the championship semifinals on Dec. 17 and the final on Dec. 20 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Wisconsin’s fourth-place position establishes where the committee put the Badgers in its in-season assessment, while the final tournament selections are still to come.
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Sources and context
- Wisconsin volleyball earns stellar in-season NCAA Top 16 rankingBadgers Wire (Jordon Lawrenz); republished by Yahoo Sports
- Nebraska leads DI women’s volleyball committee's in-season top 16NCAA.com (Stan Becton)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.