After improving to 13-5, the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball program earned a stellar in-season top-16 ranking.
Wisconsin is fresh off a four-set victory over Iowa, one that saw head coach Kelly Sheffield's squad improve to 7-1 in Big Ten play.
To no surprise, that lone loss was to No. 1 Nebraska, the same Cornhuskers team that is a perfect 19-0 and earned the No. 1 seed in the D1 women's volleyball committee's in-season top 16.
Only Pitt (17-1) and Kentucky (15-3) earned higher rankings than the Badgers, who came in at No. 4.
NCAA Top 16 reveal with the Badgers checking in at No. 4 pic.twitter.com/V7IkEXEeKI
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) October 19, 2026
Some fans may be confused why a five-loss Wisconsin team was ranked higher than the likes of Florida (14-2), SMU (14-4), Louisville (18-2), among others, but UW put together one of the toughest, if not the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation.
For reference, all five of Wisconsin's losses came to ranked teams, with none being ranked lower than No. 9.
After defeating Iowa, the Badgers have officially won eight of their last 10 matches.
UW is back in action on Friday, Oct. 23, as they search for their ninth ranked win of the season when No. 20 Washington comes to town.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin volleyball earns stellar in-season NCAA Top 16 ranking