Caroline Crawford officially is a member of the University of Wisconsin volleyball team.
That means that coach Kelly Sheffield now can comment on the 6-foot-3 middle blocker who is transferring to UW after two seasons at Kansas.
Sheffield first spoke with Crawford two days before the Badgers were to meet Louisville in the national semifinals in Columbus, Ohio. He came away with a positive impression.
“I had a great conversation with her,” Sheffield said. “You could see how she’s wired. You could tell that she’s competitive and driven.”
Equally important, he learned that she understood that his priorities at that time were elsewhere and they agreed to talk again the week after the Final Four.
That gave Sheffield and his staff a chance to do some research on Crawford, who averaged 2.17 kills and 1.18 blocks per set and hit .298 in 51 career matches for the Jayhawks. She had career highs of 18 kills and 10 blocks and was named to the All-Big 12 first team in 2020 and second team in 2021.
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The Lansing, Kansas, native was ranked No. 22 on the PrepVolleyball Senior Aces list and was a teammate of UW’s Devyn Robinson on the USA team that won gold at the NORCECA U18 Continental Championship in Honduras in 2018 and the 2019 FIVB U18 World Championships in Egypt.
“She’s been a part of stuff like that and wants to continue to do stuff like that,” Sheffield said. “Just talking with her I felt that personality-wise there was a good fit.”
Crawford also gives the Badgers some needed depth in the middle, with Danielle Hart planning to return after suffering a torn ACL in September.
“Although Danielle’s rehab is going really well, you don’t know how things like that are going to respond,” Sheffield said. “It allows us, even if more from a practice perspective, to not put so much on her right out of the gate. It also gives us more options on how we want to utilize Devyn and Anna (Smrek).
“I think she can be a really good blocker and has a good chance of being out on the court this season. She’s clearly one of the better middles that was out there and she has three more years. I think she’s going to do a really good job of fitting in with what we’re trying to do here.”
Portal perspective
The transfer portal has become a fact of life in all college sports and Sheffield has not been afraid to bring in players he feels will fit in with his program. He’s taken on a key back row player in each of the past three seasons — Lauren Barnes in 2019, Giorgia Civita in 2020 and Joslyn Boyer in 2021.
“For the most part I think the portal is great,” Sheffield said. “I’ve never been a big fan of coaches who have been able to say where players could or could not go. Being able to have freedom of movement, freedom to make decisions that people think are in their best interest is fine. If you’re not happy one place then go be happy someplace else. You’ve got a limited opportunity and that window closes pretty quick.”
That said, he also thinks the portal should be approached with caution, especially in the compressed process for a player to get admitted to a school for the spring semester to begin training with her new team.
“For high school recruiting you spend so much time over a year or so when you’re recruiting a kid,” he said. “And all of the sudden somebody gets in the portal and it’s decided in less than a week. People are going to have to be careful. It can be a shot in the arm with talent, but if you’re not careful it can have a negative effect on your culture.”
The portal has been awash with players around the country and there have been moves that figure to impact the Big Ten Conference race.
The most recent impact move was middle blocker Arica Davis from Ohio State to Minnesota. The Gophers have also picked up setter Elise McGhie from Kansas and lost middle Shea Rubright to Washington State.
Penn State has probably been the most impacted program, losing setter Gabby Blossom to San Diego, libero Jenna Hampton to South Carolina, outside hitter Annie Cate Fitzpatrick to Florida and middle Kaitlyn Hord, who has yet to settle on a new school.
Taylor Trammell, a middle from Purdue, entered the portal this week. The Boilermakers earlier landed libero Emily Brown from Missouri.
Nationally, Texas has picked up libero Zoe Fleck from UCLA and outside hitter Madi Skinner from Kentucky and lost outside hitter Skylar Fields to Southern Cal.
Schedule plans
Sheffield is close to finalizing the schedule for both this spring and the non-conference season in the fall. He expects things to be completed in the next week or so.
Without getting into specifics, he said the Badgers are looking to play a match or two at neutral sites such as a high school or club facility this spring. That’s due in part to the UW Field House being closed for part of the spring for construction work.
Much of the fall schedule is predetermined by previous commitments. UW and Minnesota will again participate in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge with Baylor and TCU. The Badgers will travel to Kentucky and also face in-state rival Marquette. Sheffield also is working on a home-and-home series with Florida. UW also owes a visit to Dayton, but that likely will be in 2023.
Photos: Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team takes down Nebraska Cornhuskers to win NCAA title

Wisconsin react after defeating Nebraska in the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

UW's Julia Orzol, who finished her freshman season playing on an injured leg, figures to see her role grow significantly next season.

Wisconsin's Anna Smrek, center, prepares to spike the ball during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Nebraska Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin's Jade Demps (15) prepares to serve the ball during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Nebraska Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin reserve players react after their team scores a point against Nebraska during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin players hold up the NCAA trophy after defeating Nebraska in the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin's head coach Kelly Sheffield celebrates after defeating Nebraska in the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin's Julia Orzol (22) spikes the ball towards Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (26) during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin's Lauren Barnes, center, reacts after her team scores a point against Nebraska during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Kayla Caffey high-fives a fan before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska ad Wisconsin fans wait outside before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska fans before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska and Wisconsin fans wait outside before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska fans wait for the players before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska fans before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska fans cheer for the players before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins high-fives fans before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins high-fives a fan before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska cheerleaders get the crowd going before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska fans wait for the players before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska fans wait for the players before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Keonilei Akana high-fives fans before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska cheer team member Logan Larsen cheers before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska fans wait for the players before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez high-fives fans before the national championship match between Wisconsin and Nebraska on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Fans wait for the arrival of the Wisconsin and Nebraska women's volleyball teams prior to the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Fans wait for the arrival of the Wisconsin and Nebraska women's volleyball teams prior to the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Nicklin Hames dives for the ball during the national championship match against Wisconsin on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins spikes the ball during the national championship match against Wisconsin on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez passes the ball during the national championship match against Wisconsin on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Nicklin Hames sets the ball during the national championship match against Wisconsin on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Nicklin Hames (center) and Lauren Stivrins (right) try to block a spike by Wisconsin's Julia Orzol during the national championship match on Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin players huddle prior to the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Nebraska Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Fans attend the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament between Wisconsin and Nebraska Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin's Grace Loberg (21) spikes the ball over Nebraska's Nicklin Hames (1) and Lauren Stivrins (26) during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin players pose for a photo after defeating Nebraska in the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's reserve players stand on the sidelines during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

UW coach Kelly Sheffield speaks to his team during the NCAA final against Nebraska last December. He's led the Badgers to four Big Ten titles, four Final Four appearances and one national title.

Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (26) spikes the ball during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin fans cheer during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Nebraska Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska reserve players react after their team is scored on by Wisconsin during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska players huddle during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (26) spikes the ball towards Wisconsin's Anna Smrek (14) and Devon Robinson (10) during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's reserve players react after their team scores a point during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska's Madi Kubik (10) digs the ball during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Nebraska head coach John Cook sits on the sidelines during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.

Wisconsin's Julia Orzol (22) spikes the ball towards Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (22) and Lauren Trivrins (26) during the championship match of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio.