Wisconsin Volleyball Dominates Butler in Exhibition Before Fourth-Set Test
Grace Lopez and Grace Egan lead Wisconsin past Butler in UW Field House contest ahead of early-season schedule
Wisconsin volleyball secured a decisive victory over Butler in an exhibition match at the UW Field House on August 14, sweeping the Bulldogs in three official sets with scores of 25-14, 25-10, and 25-13. The contest served as preparation for a demanding early-season schedule, with the Badgers establishing early control through superior service pressure and offensive efficiency.
The match highlighted the immediate impact of Grace Lopez, a former Miami (FL) transfer returning from a knee injury that sidelined her for more than a year. Lopez recorded four service aces in the first set alone, contributing to a team total of 14 aces across the three official sets. Her performance, alongside topspin serve specialist Grace Egan, who added two aces in the opening set, set a tone that Butler struggled to counter.
Egan finished the official sets with a team-high nine kills and a .467 hitting percentage, playing multiple positions including opposite and outside hitter. Wisconsin maintained a significant advantage in kills, finishing with 38 compared to Butler’s 11 in the three official sets. Six Wisconsin players recorded at least four kills, while no Butler player surpassed one kill until the third set.
The Badgers’ service performance nearly approached the program record of 16 service aces in a three-set match, a mark set in 1989 against Northern Illinois. In addition to Lopez and Egan, setters Charlie Fuerbringer and Isabelle Hoppe each contributed two aces, while Kristen Simon and Natalie Wardlow added one apiece.
Wisconsin faced a challenge in an unofficial fourth set, where Butler, coached by Kyle Shondell, jumped to a 10-2 lead and forced an early timeout from Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield. Despite the Bulldogs’ improved performance in the unofficial set, Wisconsin recovered to win 30-28. Butler, which finished the 2025 season with a 12-17 overall record and a 5-11 Big East record, showed resilience but could not overcome the Badgers’ early dominance.
