Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield is satisfied with the current roster and sees no 'incredible need' as the transfer portal opens on May 1. The team aims to fill two remaining spots to reach the NCAA's 18-player cap.
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MADISON â Kelly Sheffield has a lot to like as he looks at the Wisconsin volleyball teamâs 2026 roster.
âI love the roster that we have right now,â Sheffield said. âI love the ability to grow with this group. This group is going to be feisty and get after it on Day 1.â
That puts Sheffieldâs Badgers in an enviable position as the spring transfer portal window opens May 1 for 15 days. As of April 30, the longtime UW coach did not see an âincredible needâ for the 2026 roster.
Wisconsin will be in the market for players who can fill the two remaining roster spots and bring the Badgers to the 18-player cap. (NCAA rules do not require teams to use every roster spot, but it could have Title IX implications for a particular school.)
âIf we didnât have a roster target number that I was given, Iâm not sure that weâd be bringing anybody in, but we do, and Iâve got to respond to that,â Sheffield said in a phone call.
The Badgersâ biggest need after the winter transfer portal window appeared to be libero after the departures of Aniya Warren and Maile Chan, who transferred to Oklahoma and Florida State, respectively. That left Kristen Simon as the only libero on the spring roster.
UW has since at least partially addressed that need with the commitment from Italian libero Anna Bardaro â âa partner in crimeâ for Simon, Sheffield said after the last spring match. Sheffield did suggest at the time that UW could âhopefully get her another one back there.â
But the Badgers already appear to have an abundance of depth at several other positions.
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UC-Santa Barbara transfer Eva Travis and incoming freshmen Audrey Flanagan and Halle Thompson were among the outside hitters who impressed during spring practices and matches. They joined returners Grace Egan, Grace Lopez and Madison Quest (although Egan and Lopez did not play in the spring due to injuries).
Florida transfer Jaela Auguste shined at middle blocker in the spring and was responsible for one play in particular against Northern Illinois that Sheffield ranked among some of the best in the Field Houseâs lengthy history. Rising sophomore Natalie Wardlow and incoming freshman Lynney Tarnow are among UWâs other threats in the middle.
Kelly Sheffield expressed that he loves the current roster and is excited about the team's potential to grow together.
The transfer portal opens on May 1 and will remain open for 15 days.
Wisconsin volleyball needs to fill two remaining roster spots to meet the NCAA's 18-player cap.
Not filling all roster spots could have Title IX implications for the school, even though NCAA rules do not require teams to use every spot.
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âItâll be a nice parlor game trying to figure out whoâs going to play for this team,â Sheffield said after the spring sweep over Northern Illinois. âEspecially on the pins, thereâs a lot of capable players, and we had some of them that didnât even get in today.â
Wisconsin also is again in good shape at setter as Charlie Fuerbringer, a 2024 third-team All-American, approaches her junior season. Isabelle Hoppe, who flipped her commitment from Pittsburgh, was the No. 10 recruit in PrepVolleyball.comâs final 2026 recruiting rankings.
Florida transfer Jaela Auguste (4) was outstanding in spring play, and sophomore Natalie Wardlow (12) is another threat at middle blocker for Wisconsin.
Sheffield is largely keeping an open mind ahead of the spring portal, though, as he approaches a window that helped the Badgers land eventual starter Alicia Andrew and backup libero Jada Cerniglia in 2025.
âIf there are areas to make us better, weâre certainly going to be open and looking for that,â Sheffield said. âBut at what position? I think that still will be determined.â
The following players are listed alphabetically within each position group:
Outside hitters or right-side hitters: Grace Egan, Audrey Flanagan, Grace Lopez, Madison Quest, Halle Thompson, Eva Travis
Middle blockers: Jaela Auguste, Kymora Scott, Lynney Tarnow, Natalie Wardlow
Setters: Charlie Fuerbringer, Isabelle Hoppe, Morgan Van Wie
Liberos: Anna Bardaro, Kristen Simon
Open roster spots: 2/18
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Where 2026 Wisconsin volleyball roster stands ahead of transfer portal