Volleyball On SI

When Will Wisconsin's Outside Hitter Grace Egan Return from Injury?

The NCAA does not require injury reports for volleyball and Wisconsin's Kelly Sheffield is known to hold things close

Abbie Harris

Wisconsin's outside hitter, Grace Egan poses for promotional photo
Wisconsin's outside hitter, Grace Egan poses for promotional photo / University of Wisconsin-Madison Athletic Department

Senior outside hitter Grace Egan did not play in Wisconsin’s latest game, a 3-0 sweep against Auburn on Sept. 3.

Badger fans were caught off guard by her absence, as she led the team with 20 points off 17 kills and 2 service aces against No. 10 Florida on Sept. 2, 2026. Egan had a season-high hitting percentage in that game, .314 (just slightly above her .312 against No. 5  Louisville

“No update on Grace Egan’s injury status. #badgers want to keep it tight, especially since NCAA volleyball doesn’t currently require an injury report,” Kate Fox, in-game host of Wisconsin volleyball posted on X.

Egan transferred to Wisconsin from Ohio State in 2025 and appeared in 110 sets over 25 matches for the Badgers. She had 245 kills at .264 efficiency, 28 digs, and was Wisconsin’s 3rd-highest point scorer with 317.

So far in 2026, Eagan has played in 15 of Wisconsin’s 21 sets, starting in all but one (the third set against Kentucky at the First Serve on August 21). She has averaged 2.47 kills per set and is hitting .242. She’s already racked up 9 service aces, 38 digs, and 47.5 points (again 3rd-best on the team).

The Auburn game was the second that Eagan has missed. She did not play in Wisconsin’s game against No. 2 Pitt in the Opening Spike Classic on August 30, 2026.

It is unclear when she will return to the Badgers lineup and in what capacity.

This is not unusual for head coach Kelly Sheffield. Last season, when setter Charlie Fuerbringer missed 5 games, he similarly revealed no details or updates of her injury or return other than a shoulder injury.

Florida transfer Jaela Auguste has similarly been plagued by injury since her arrival. She did not play in either of Wisconsin’s exhibition matches against their alumni and Butler but did open the season with the Badgers against Kentucky and Louisville. In those games, Auguste was a clear difference maker, with 15 kills, 1 error, a .519 hitting percentage, and 3 blocks.

Auguste has not played since, though she was dressed for Wisconsin’s games against Florida and Auburn.

Wisconsin has also recently added an outside hitter from the Puerto Rico national team, Decelise Champion. Champion joined the Badgers on Sept. 2, but has yet to log any playing time with her college team.

The Badgers are currently 3-3 for the season, with the hardest schedule in the country, having played five top-10 teams already. They head down to Texas this week to face No. 19 Texas A&M on September 11th and then No. 9 Texas on Sept. 13.

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Abbie Harris
ABBIE HARRIS

Abbie Harris has been talking about women's sports to anyone who would listen, and sometimes to those who wouldn't, for as long as she can remember. She has been the host of a weekly Nebraska women's sports podcast for over a year, primarily covering volleyball, women's basketball, and softball. Harris holds three degrees, including a Ph.D. from Saint Louis.

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