In a surprising twist for one of college volleyball’s powerhouse programs, Wisconsin is losing starting outside hitter Una Vajagic to the transfer portal.
Vajagic, a redshirt sophomore in 2025, stepped into a prominent role this past season after the Badgers lost incoming transfer Grace Lopez to a season-ending injury before the first serve. It was a big ask, but Vajagic rose to the moment. The Serbian native, who redshirted in 2024, showed steady growth throughout the year and became a reliable offensive option for a team that made a deep postseason run.
She averaged 2.79 kills per set while hitting at a .279 clip - solid numbers for a first-year starter in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. Her ability to deliver consistent production helped stabilize the Badgers’ attack, especially during stretches when they needed someone to step up and carry the load.
Now, Vajagic becomes the most significant departure from Wisconsin’s Final Four roster - the first starter to enter the portal this offseason. Her exit reshapes the outside hitter landscape for the Badgers heading into 2025 and leaves a notable hole in a position that was already undergoing change.
She’s not the only player moving on. Wisconsin has also seen freshman setter Addy Horner, sophomore outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres, redshirt freshman middle blocker Tosia Serafinowska, and liberos Aniya Warren and Maile Chan enter the portal. None of those were starters, but depth matters - especially for a program with championship aspirations.
As of now, the Badgers’ outside hitter group looks very different. The returning players include redshirt sophomore Grace Egan and freshman Madison Quest, along with incoming freshmen Halle Thompson and Audrey Flanagan. There’s also a new addition in UC Santa Barbara transfer Eva Travis, who recently committed to Wisconsin and could play a key role in reloading the position.
The departure of Vajagic is a tough one - no way around that. She was a breakout contributor on a Final Four team, and her development over the past year gave Wisconsin a much-needed spark.
But with a mix of young talent and new faces coming in, the Badgers still have plenty of options. The challenge now is finding the right combination to keep them in the national title conversation.