Slinger Alum Sara Blasier Transfers to Marquette from Rice

Sara Blasier (Slinger '12) has become a Golden Eagle. Welcome back.

While This Blog Was Sleeping #2: Wisconsin Badgers Return to Glory in a B1G Way

In our ongoing attempt to make this blog relevant again, we're revisiting stories that occurred during our silent years. Near the top of that list has to be the reemergence of Wisconsin Badgers volleyball as a national powerhouse. Here's what you already know happened, but we're recapping anyway:

• 2013 NCAA runners-up, falling in four thrilling sets to Penn State
• 2014 NCAA elite eight, falling in four thrilling sets to Penn State
• 2014 B1G champions, finishing ahead of, you guessed it, Penn State
• 2014 B1G player of the year and setter of the year: Lauren Carlini
• 2014 B1G defensive player of the year: Taylor Morey 
• One of the top recruiting classes in the nation

We could go on, but you get the idea. Any suggestions for our next "while this blog was sleeping" catch-up post? Let us know. 

While This Blog Was Sleeping #1: Wisconsinite Five-Peat

A whole lot happened while this blog was hitting the snooze button year after year after year. And it'll obviously take some time for us to get back into the heavy arm swing of things.

Here's one little something that happened: A team with at least one Wisconsinite on its roster won the NCAA Division 1 men's championship for the fifth straight year. Let's review:

• 2010: Stanford with Garrett Werner (Nicolet '06)
• 2011: Ohio State with Peter Heinen (Milwaukee Marquette '10) and Nick Gibson (Shorewood '09)
• 2012: UC-Irvine with Jeremy Dejno (New Berlin '10)
• 2013: UC-Irvine with Jeremy Dejno (New Berlin '10)
• 2014: Loyola with Nick Olson (New Berlin, '12), Trevor Novotny (Catholic Memorial, '12), Peter Hutz (Milwaukee Marquette, '12)

Any other suggestions for a "while this blog was sleeping" post? Did the Wisconsin Badgers do anything in the 2013 or 2014 seasons? Did a Wisconsinite win a national championship on the women's side in 2014?

Stay tuned. And don't hesitate to help us catch up from this huge hole we've dug for ourselves. Our goal is to have an incredible comeback to win a set even though we're behind like 19-8 right now. (Hold on. Wait. What's that? Did we just give our first hint as to the identity of us here bloggers?)

Happy 2015 to Anyone Still Out There

Yes, we intend to give this blog another go. It was a lot of fun for a number of years. We miss it. If you do, too, leave a comment to let us know. 

We also plan to lift the veil of anonymity. Not right away, but soon. It's time.

Sound like a plan? Fingers crossed.

Catching Up with Class of 2015 and 2016 Recruits (Girls)

In an effort to catch up, we're combining both lists. Started with the Milwaukee Sting site. We know it's not where it needs to be yet, but we'll keep at it until gets there.

CLASS OF 2015 

• Madeline Brown, Westosha Central (UW-Lacrosse)
• Blake Bucholz, Waupun (Bucknell) 
• Lexi Calloway, Catholic Memorial (UW-Parkside) 
• Lexi Caruso, Indian Trail (Concordia-Wisconsin)
• Morgan Kath, Muskego (Stony Brook) 
• Sarah Konchan, Kenosha Tremper (North Carolina State)
• Caitlin Koska, Franklin (Seton Hall) 
• Anna Nyberg, Tomahawk (Kentucky)
• Brooke Schumacher, Hartford (Tennessee) 
• Carly Townsend, Germantown (Toledo) 
• Mira Wallace, Oshkosh West (Pace University) 
• Taylor Wilkerson, Brookfield East (Cedarville) 

CLASS OF 2016 

• Victoria Brisack, Verona (Indiana) 
• Sarah Dodd, Kenosha Tremper (Wisconsin)
• Sara Januszewski, Oak Creek (Ohio) 
• Lauren Litzau, Greendale (Minnesota) 
• Madeline Mosher, Waterloo (Marquette)
• Quinn Spieker, Burlington (North Carolina State)
• Kylie Wilks, Union Grove (UW-Milwaukee)

If Anyone Is Still Out There

Give us one week to catch up on emails to the blog then we'll be back. Spread the word.

Watch ESPNU Now (This Is Not a Request)

NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship is about to start.

One Wisconsinite on each team: Jeremy Dejno (New Berlin United and West Allis Lightning) for Irvine and Phil Fuchs (Brookfield East and North Shore) for BYU.

Good luck to both.

The First 2016: Muskego's Sandra Mohr to Marquette

According to the Milwaukee Sting site, Sandra Mohr (Muskego '16) will continue her volleyball career at Marquette. We have not added her to our master list of 2016 recruits, but will when we start one.

From 4 to 2 Tonight

NCAA Men's Division I/II semifinals start tonight. Here are five things to watch from Off the Block. A sixth would be all the Wisconsinites out there. Good luck all.

Final Four, Final 22, Just a Typical Week for Former New Berlin United Star

In addition to helping the Loyola Ramblers make the NCAA Men's Division I/II Final Four last Saturday, Nicholas Olson (New Berlin United '12) has just been named to the 22-person men's junior national training team. Not a bad week, all in all, eh?

Beaver Dam's Sara Schultz to NAIA Roosevelt University

According to reliable sources, Sara Schultz (Beaver Dam '13) will continue her volleyball career at NAIA Roosevelt University in Chicago. We've added her to our master list of 2013 recruits. Congrats.

Burlington Catholic Central's Kelly Gould to NAIA Hannibal-LaGrange

According to the Wisconsin Juniors site, Kelly Gould (Burlington Catholic Central '13) will continue her volleyball career at NAIA Hannibal-LaGrange University. We've added her to our master list of 2013 recruits. Congrats.