The Wisconsin Badgers couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off the upcoming 2026 volleyball season.
Tons of notable alumni came back to the UW Field House for an exhibition match on Saturday, August 8.
In the end, the likes of Mimi Colyer and Sarah Franklin guided the alumni to a victory over Kelly Sheffield's 2026 roster, 3-1.
The alumni dropped the third set, but overcame a 4-0 deficit in the fourth to pull out the win: 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22.
Head coach Kelly Sheffield loved the environment
"How fun was that?" Sheffield asked as part of the post-match press conference. "It's really rare to get into a match where both teams are leaving it out on the court, both teams are having a blast. Both teams left the match having a blast. There's not a whole lot of matches that I've been a part of that have
been that."
Sheffield turned to his 2026 roster to take over from there, but he was more than thrilled with not only how his girls competed, but how this fanbase showed up to support both the past and the present.
Charlie Fuerbringer recaps the event
Feurbringer, who had 35 assists and eight digs in the match, expressed just how much it meant to be part of a special event like this.
"I think it was a really good battle and both teams pushed each other. They showed up just how we expected them to, and I think we did a great job at responding," she said.
Former alumni chime in
There's no place like home, and that's exactly how it felt for Franklin to play in front of these Badgers fans once again, "I think Badger fans just love some really good volleyball. In that fourth set when we had that super long rally, you could just tell the fans were into it."
Sydney Hilley hasn't been around for a few years, but returning to the UW Field House was everything she could've dreamed of, "To come in here, in a packed house in the Field House and play in front of that environment with Wisconsin on my chest again is just surreal."
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Best quotes from Wisconsin volleyball's preseason match vs. alumni
