Wisconsin volleyball team's 2023 NCAA Tournament schedule, time, what to know about Badgers' first-round opponent Jackson State
MADISON – The road to the Final Four begins today for the Wisconsin volleyball team.
The Badgers are one of 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament field that will begin play with first- and second-round matches Thursday through Saturday at 16 sites around the country. Wisconsin, the overall No. 3 seed, will host at the UW Field House on Thursday and Friday and next week if it advances.
The Badgers are the top seed in the upper right quad of the bracket. If the top seeds play out, UW will be joined at the Field House next week by No. 2 seed Oregon, No. 3 Purdue and No. 4 Kansas, though there is a chance No. 6 seed Marquette could spring an upset and crash the party.
Who does the Wisconsin volleyball team face in the NCAA Tournament?
The Badgers will play host to Jackson State in the first round.
What time will the Wisconsin volleyball team play?
The Badgers play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the UW Field House.
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How did Jackson State qualify for the NCAA Tournament?
The Tigers (17-12) finished fifth in the SWAC but won the conference tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. To win the tournament title, Jackson State defeated three teams – Alabama A&M, Alabama State and Florida A&M – that beat the Tigers twice during the regular season.
Who are Jackson State’s top players?
Senior outside hitter Alexis Williams averages a team-high 3.27 kills per set, but freshman right-side hitter Hope Briggs (2.79 kps) is the team’s most efficient hitter with a .267 hitting percentage. Sophomore Karys Dove, who averaged 5.24 assists per set, and freshman Naija Gadis (5.12) share setting duties. SWAC coach of the year Rose Washington plans to retire at the end of the season after 22 years on the job.
Who could Wisconsin volleyball face in the second round of 2023 NCAA Tournament?
If UW advances, it will face the winner of No. 8 seed Northern Iowa vs. Miami at 7 p.m. Friday. Those teams play their first-round match at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Field House. Here's a look at the Badgers’ potential second-round opponents:
Northern Iowa (26-6)
The Panthers went undefeated in the Missouri Valley Conference and are making their 25th NCAA appearance. Two Milwaukee-area players have been key to the team’s success: junior setter Tayler Alden, a graduate of Oconomowoc, was the MVP of the conference tournament, and junior libero Erin Powers (Mukwonago) leads the team with 4.93 digs per set.
Miami (17-11)
The Hurricanes were swept by the Badgers on Sept. 8 and went on to tie for sixth in the ACC. Their biggest wins of the year came over Georgia Tech, a No. 5 seed for the NCAA Tournament that the Hurricanes swept twice.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin volleyball team's NCAA Tournament schedule, Jackson State
