Wisconsin volleyball’s Lola Schumacher in transfer portal

Lola Schumacher, who started 23 of the Badgers’ 33 matches at the position as a freshman last season, has entered the transfer portal, according to BadgerExtra sources.

Fellow freshman Maile Chan started at libero over Schumacher in the Badgers’ last two spring matches last month, with Schumacher subbing in to serve and as a defensive specialist. Schumacher had two digs in a sweep of Marquette, then another two in a sweep of UW-Green Bay.

There will be plenty of competition to replace Schumacher in the Badgers’ starting lineup. Chan will be in the mix, but she will have to beat out incoming freshmen Aniya Warren and Kristen Simon. Warren is the top ranked libero in the 2025 recruiting class and No. 11 overall, according to PrepDig, while Kristen Simon is ranked No. 70 by PrepDig.

Schumacher emerged as a stalwart in the back row for the Badgers last season. She played a huge role in her first collegiate start at libero, recording 27 digs in Wisconsin’s 3-2 win over Baylor.

“Lola made some digs in the right back where the match was over,” Badgers coach Kelly Sheffield said after that match in Waco, Texas. “How are these balls going to get up, and she’s just flying around.”

An injury forced her to miss three matches during the season, but she returned in time to help the Badgers reach the regional final, where they lost to Nebraska.

The 5-foot-5 Schumacher averaged a team-high 3.64 digs per set and ranked fifth on the team with 17 service aces. She will have three years of eligibility remaining.

The Badgers will open the season Aug. 29 when they host Kansas at the Kohl Center. They then will face Texas at 1 p.m. Aug. 31, also at the Kohl Center.