Field House heats up as Badgers roll into tournament

The Field House was filled with a familiar energy this weekend, as the Badgers volleyball team started the NCAA tournament with two decisive wins. More excitement is ahead, as the No. 1-seed Badgers take on Penn State on Thursday, with the winner on Saturday playing the winner of the Pittsburgh-Florida match for the right to go to the Final Four. The Badgers are defending national champions.

A player smiles and holds up her arms triumphantly as she jogs onto the court.

Danielle Hart (#18) waves to the crowd during the lineup announcement before the match against Quinnipiac on Friday evening. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Fans cheer on the Badgers, the defending national champions. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Uniformed volleyball players gather on the court and slap hands.

Gulce Guctekin (#21), Julia Orzol (#22), Sarah Franklin (#13), Izzy Ashburn (#11), and Danielle Hart (#18) celebrate a point againsts Quinnipiac. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Badgers band members wearing red uniforms shake their fists and shout, while holding instruments.

The Badger band cheers the team gleefully. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Gulce Guctekin (#21) dives for the ball. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Young people wearing red Wisconsin sweatshirts stand and cheer in the stands.

The Area Red student section cheers on the team. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

A volleyball player hits the ball as she jumps high.

Izzy Ashburn (#11) sets the ball against Quinnipiac. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

A volleyball player reaches up an arm to spike the ball just over the net.

Jade Demps (#15) spikes the ball against Quinnipiac. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

The volleyball team huddles and listens to the coach, who talks and gesticulates.

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield talks to the team during a timeout against Quinnipiac. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Uniformed volleyball players run jubilantly onto a court and hug, as fans cheer.

The Badgers run onto the court after winning the match against Quinnipiac on Friday. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

A uniformed volleyball player high fives a bunch of kids.

Devyn Robinson (#10) shakes hands with young fans as the Badgers volleyball team takes to the court for the match against TCU on Saturday. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

MJ Hammill (#6) serves against TCU. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield cheers on the team. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Volleyball players dance and mime on the sideline.

Liz Gregorski (#4) and Gabby McCaa (#7) do a scripted cheer after a point won against TCU. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Volleyball players huddle up on the court, one of them shouting encouragement.

Anna Smrek (#14) and her teammates cheer after scoring a point against TCU. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

A volleyball player stretches her arms out to strike the ball.

Izzy Ashburn (#11) sets the ball in a match against TCU in 2022. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

The team lines up on the court, arms around each other, singing.

The Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team sings “Varsity” after winning 3-0 against TCU. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram

Gabby McCaa (#7) poses for a photo with some young fans after the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team played against TCU in the TCU match. Photo by: Taylor Wolfram