Athletes keep flocking to Madison. Wisconsin Volleyball lands their second big time transfer for the 2023 season. Temi Thomas-Ailara will be joining the Badger family as a grad transfer after she graduates from Northwestern University this spring. Upon graduation, Thomas-Ailara will join her new teammates this summer and get to work in pursuit of a fifth consecutive Big Ten Championship.
Officially committed! I’m so excited to continue my athletic and academic career at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this process!! ❤️ #OnWisconsin
— Temi Thomas (@temi_t_) January 31, 2023
Temi Thomas-Ailara’s Impressive Resume
Temi Thomas-Ailara has been a force in the Big Ten conference the last four years. Four times she has garnered All-Big Ten honors. Three of the four times Thomas-Ailara was voted onto the First Team All-Big Ten with her lone Second Team All-Big Ten coming her freshman season. Additionally, Thomas-Ailara was voted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Second Team All-American in 2022. She is just the fourth player in Northwestern program history to earn such honors.
IT'S TEMI TIME!!!
📝: https://t.co/k2FvJhbPJB pic.twitter.com/7mFRsxYbXg— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) February 2, 2023
Stats back up the Talent
As a 6-2 outside hitter, Thomas-Ailara led the Big Ten in 2022 with 502 total kills. At 4.33 kills per set, Thomas-Ailara ranked second in the Big Ten conference and 20th in the country. Additionally, Temi has proven to be a durable player. Last season she competed in all 32 matches. In 28 of 32 matches she recorded 10+ kills. In seven matches last season, she posted 20+ kills.
In an article by Ashley Steltenpohl on the Badgers’ website, head coach Kelly Sheffield had high praise for Temi during his announcement of her joining the Badgers,
“Her arm talent I’d put right up there with the top echelon of college players in the country. She can get on a ball in a hurry, has a high contact point, and hits with range. She has a wicked serve and can be a really physical blocker.”
Sheffield also went on to say, “although she didn’t play a lot of backrow this past season, I think she is capable of being a really good passer and defensive player. And although she’s been one of the top players in the conference the past few years, what I was most excited about was how well she fit in with the players here on her visit and how she much she wanted to be a part of what we are doing here.”
Kelly Sheffield Aug 2 2022
Related: Wisconsin Volleyball Lands Big Time Player via the Transfer Portal
Badgers’ Additions and Subtractions
Temi Thomas-Ailara marks the second inner conference player to transfer to the Badgers this season. Carter Booth, 6-7 middle blocker is the other transfer to join Wisconsin’s volleyball program. Booth transferred from Minnesota. The 2022 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, Saige Damrow has committed to Wisconsin and joined the team for the spring semester.
Three players are transferring from Wisconsin to other programs. Anna MacDonald, libero/defensive specialist is joining the Dayton Flyers as a grad transfer. Kansas State Wildcats are acquiring outside hitter and grad transfer Liz Gregorski. The Wisconsin native just announced her commitment a few days ago. The final transfer is outside hitter Jade Demps. Demps will be joining the LSU Tigers and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Of the three transfers, Demps is the player who made significant contributions in the 2022 season.
Best of luck to these players and their new teams as well as the transfers coming to the program.
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