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Here are the Wisconsin, Marquette volleyball players picked in MVL draft
In a moment that transcended the typical rhythms of a collegiate athletic department, Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield arrived at his weekly press conference with the kind of energized delay that only profound pride can justify. The cause for his tardiness was a celebration of a landmark achievement, not just for his program, but for the sport itself: his athlete, the dynamic outside hitter Mimi Colyer, had just been anointed the first overall pick in the inaugural Major League Volleyball draft.'Just had an exciting draft party for Mimi going overall No. 1 draft pick in Major League Volleyball, which is really cool,' Sheffield shared, his words carrying the weight of a mentor witnessing a dream realized.He reflected on the culmination of her journey, noting, 'She’s worked hard and put herself in a great position to take her game to the next level and be challenged at the next level. ' This wasn't merely a draft selection; it was a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence, a theme that would echo throughout the day for Wisconsin and Marquette athletes.Colyer’s selection by the expansion Dallas Pulse was a historic footnote, the very first building block for a new franchise, and it came as she is in the midst of an elite senior season, averaging a staggering 5. 37 kills per set while hitting.332 after her transfer from Oregon. The Pulse, clearly building a culture around Badger tenacity, returned to the Wisconsin well in the third round, selecting the towering 6-foot-7 middle blocker and team captain Carter Booth with the 19th overall pick.Booth embodies a different kind of dominance; her team-high. 435 hitting percentage, which also ranks 11th nationally and second in the Big Ten, speaks to a quiet, efficient power that fortifies a team's core.From Marquette, the spotlight found middle blocker Hattie Bray, who was snapped up by the Grand Rapids Rise as the 25th overall pick, the first selection of the fourth round. Bray’s resume is one of consistent impact, leading the Big East in blocks and ranking fourth in hitting percentage, and her professional journey will be sweetened by a reunion with former MU teammate Jenna Reitsma, now the Rise’s director of volleyball operations, a subplot that adds a layer of familial connection to the high-stakes business of professional sports.The draft’s narrative also extended its reach to deeply rooted Wisconsin ties beyond the major programs. The Omaha Supernovas made a strategic move by selecting Cedarburg native Kiara Reinhardt with the eighth-overall pick, a player who just helped Creighton claim a Big East tournament title, a story of local talent shining on a national stage.They followed this by picking Waterloo native Brooke Mosher, a redshirt senior who has honed her skills at Pittsburgh after four years at Illinois, demonstrating the winding, resilient paths athletes often traverse. Further solidifying the state's imprint on this new league, Madison native Claire Ammeraal was selected 22nd overall by the Supernovas, her journey having taken her from Central Michigan to Iowa.This collective draft day is more than a list of names; it is the ignition of professional dreams and the validation of countless hours in empty gyms. It represents a seismic shift for the sport, offering a tangible, aspirational destination for collegiate stars and fundamentally altering the landscape of women's volleyball.For these athletes, the draft is not an endpoint but a new beginning, a challenge to elevate their game amidst the best in the world, carrying the hopes of their communities and the legacy of their schools onto a grander stage. It’s a powerful reminder that in sports, as in life, hard work, when met with opportunity, can create moments that make a coach happily late and redefine what is possible for an entire generation of players.
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#Marquette Golden Eagles
#Mimi Colyer
#Dallas Pulse
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