League One Volleyball is gaining more and more momentum with every passing day. The pro volleyball league has been scintillating so far in its inaugural season, and the action is far from over. As the second week of the tournament arrives, LOVB Madison is looking to make amends for its loss in the first match of the season. The stakes, as well as the anticipation, are naturally high, and one former Wisconsin Badgers star can’t seem to get over how her former camp has dressed up for the upcoming rumble.

When three-time AVCA All-American honoree Sarah Franklin signed her pro contract with LOVB Madison in December last year, the hype was real. And now, as the outside hitter waits to return to the Badgers’ home court once again, the Wisconsin alum took a moment to admire the Wisconsin Field House’s beauty.

In her Instagram story from January 17, Franklin shared how the iconic volleyball arena looks ahead of hosting LOVB Salt Lake vs. LOVB Madison. “In LOVB with the new look,” Sarah wrote in her social media caption, as the Field House’s giant screen displayed its LOVB colors with pride. The visitors, Salt Lake will probably arrive in high spirits, having defeated LOVB Atlanta in the first week of the tournament. On the other hand, the former Wisconsin Badgers star and her new squad are yet to register their first win.

In its maiden game of the tournament against LOVB Austin, Madison took a hefty 3-0 loss. However, despite the pressure that hangs overhead, it’s only normal that Franklin is elated to see how the arena that she’s so familiar with is looking impeccable. Across the arena, large hangings remind everyone of the feats that Wisconsin boasts under its belt. From the 2021 NCAA D1 Volleyball Championship winners to 3x Big Ten Volleyball champions, the Badgers are indeed a force to be reckoned with, and, understandably, Franklin must be still feeling butterflies in her stomach every time she steps onto the court that’s steeped in legacy.

“This is a really special place, and I love playing here as a Badger, when I wasn’t a Badger, and now as a professional,” Sarah could be heard saying in the accompanying video of an Instagram post by LOVB Madison on January 17. However, she isn’t the only returning Wisconsin volleyball star who would get the fans to rally for Madison in unison on Friday. Instead, Franklin will be joined by opposite hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara and setter Lauren Carlini, both of whom also have a ton of memories in the Field House during their time on the campus. However, being the sensational athlete that Sarah is, it’s only natural that the expectation to see her perform is more daunting than what most of her colleagues feel.

The Wisconsin Badgers alum lends her skills to the new team

With 1,349 kills in 328 sets, Franklin racked an impressive 4.11 kills per set during her time in Wisconsin. Along with those 675 career digs as a Badger, the Outside Hitter also cemented her reputation as a formidable defensive player who can shoulder extra responsibilities when the squad needs it. The 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year and the 2023 AVCA National Player of the Year, Franklin’s accolades speak for themselves. And yet, despite all of her good intentions to help the team win, the Badgers took major blows from arch-rivals Nebraska every time they met in 2024.

From their two matches in the regular season to crossing paths in the 2024 NCAA D1 Championships, the Huskers beat Wisconsin by large margins every single time, rendering all of Franklin’s efforts useless against the former. However, all of that is behind Sarah now, and her sight is set firmly on helping her new squad lift the inaugural LOVB trophy. The prospect of being able to continue watching Franklin’s journey in Madison excited Wisconsin fans when she announced she would stay in the city for longer.

Unsurprisingly, that hype seemed to have been returned emphatically by Franklin when LOVB Madison played its first home match of the season on January 17th. Racking up 20 points with 19 kills, Sarah aided her team to defeat LOVB Salt Lake by 3-2. However, her responsibilities don’t end here! On Saturday, January 18, the Wisconsin alum will probably once again cross paths with Nebraska’s former team captain Lexi Rodriguez, one of the most decorated liberos, and LOVB Omaha in Wisconsin Field House. How do you think the two old foes’ next meeting will go down? Share your score predictions for tomorrow’s match in the comments below!