Wisconsin volleyball's Grace Egan gives in-depth update on back injury
· Yahoo Sports
MADISON – Wisconsin volleyball standout Grace Egan’s injury absence has prompted questions.
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The 6-foot-1 outside hitter provided answers with a lengthy update on her back injury and recovery via Instagram on Sept. 14.
Egan “experienced a setback” with her back injury in the Badgers’ five-set win over Florida on Sept. 2, she wrote in the Instagram post, and does not have a precise timeline to return.
“I’ve been away from the team recently so I can give my body the time and attention it needs to heal,” Egan wrote. “I’m not ready to put an exact date on my return just yet, but I’m working every day toward getting back on the court as soon as possible.”
Egan said this back injury “brought a level of fear and stress I hadn’t experienced before” with past injuries.
Coach Kelly Sheffield had not disclosed the nature of Egan's injury. He said during his Sept. 8 news conference that Egan’s status was to be determined while noting there is “not an advantage to give information on somebody’s availability from where I sit.”
She was not on the sidelines Sept. 3 for Wisconsin’s home match against Auburn and did not make the trip to Texas A&M and Texas on Sept. 11-13. She also missed Wisconsin’s Aug. 30 loss at then-No. 4 Pittsburgh due to what Sheffield described at the time as a “coach’s decision.”
Egan, one of the few returning starters from the 2025 Final Four team, has totaled 37 kills (or 2.47 kills per set) in four matches in the 2026 season. Her nine aces remain a team-high despite missing the other four matches. Her 17 kills against Florida were second-best on the team.
Until Egan is healthy enough to be back in the mix, the Badgers’ other options at the pin-hitting positions include Eva Travis, Audrey Flanagan, Grace Lopez, Decelise Champion, Halle Thompson and Madison Quest.
“Every setback I’ve faced has made me stronger, and I truly believe I’ll come out of this healthier, better and playing the best volleyball of my life,” Egan said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin volleyball's Grace Egan gives in-depth update on back injury