Tag: anna smrek

Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Fairfield, advances to second round of 2024 NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin volleyball sweeps Fairfield, advances to second round of 2024 NCAA Tournament

The No. 2-seed Wisconsin Badgers swept the Fairfield Stags to advance to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

The Badgers didn’t struggle in separating from Fairfield, winning 25-16, 25-16 and 25-14 before a jam-packed home crowd to punch their ticket to the Second Round against No. 7 Georgia Tech.

Senior middle blocker Anna Smrek finished with a team-best 14 kills and added five blocks, while back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year Sarah Franklin finished with 12 kills and three blocks in the effort.

As a team, Wisconsin tallied 48 kills to Fairfield’s 29, 45 assists to the Stags’ 27 and seven aces to Fairfield’s one. With the win, UW moves to 26-1 all-time in the first round of the tournament.

Kelly Sheffield’s eyes are certainly not set on a first-round victory over a team from the MAAC. For this season to be a success, his squad will need to vanquish the No. 1-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers in the tournament’s quarterfinal round.

Wisconsin is 0-2 against Nebraska this season, but the team’s history of consistent postseason success is undeniable. Wisconsin’s next test vs. Georgia Tech is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday and will be broadcasted on ESPN +.

Wisconsin Badgers volleyball rises in latest AVCA rankings

Wisconsin Badgers volleyball rockets up in latest AVCA rankings

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccurate headline.

Wisconsin’s volleyball team jumped to No. 6 in the latest release of the AVCA rankings.

The Badgers are back near the top after overcoming a disappointing 0-3 start.

Pittsburgh earned the No. 1 spot in the latest ranking. It is followed by 2023 runner-up Nebraska, 2022 runner-up Louisville, No. 4 Penn State and 2022 and 2023 national champion Texas in the top five. The Badgers landed just above 2018 and 2019 national champion Stanford and No. 8 Purdue.

The Badgers were ranked third in the 2024 Preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association in late August. The team is 18-5 with losses to preseason No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Nebraska, No. 5 Stanford, No. 6 Louisville and No. 18 Minnesota.

One week earlier, the Badgers were No. 7. Their rise to No. 6 comes after Kelly Sheffield’s team swept both Iowa and No. 3 Penn State in back-to-back matches at the UW Field House.

Against the Nittany Lions, Wisconsin dominated with 25-23, 25-12 and 25-13 finishes in the 3-0 win.

The Badgers registered a .465 hitting percentage with 50 kills on 101 attempts. Superstar Sarah Franklin and middle blocker/right side hitter Anna Smrek accounted for 13 kills apiece.

UW looks to build off its recent win against No. 20 USC on Nov. 14.

CHECK IT OUT: Four Badgers volleyball players earn All-Big Ten honors

Multiple Badgers chosen for All-Big Ten teams

The Badgers women’s volleyball team officially began postseason play Thursday, hosting Jackson State, but they had four players earn All-Big Ten honors earlier in the day.

Senior outside hitter Sarah Franklin is coming off of a week where she was the Big Ten Player of the Week and the National Player of the week but she was picked as a unanimous choice for the All-Big Ten First Team as well as the Big Ten Player of the year Thursday.

Junior opposite Anna Smrek and sophomore middle blocker Carter Booth were also chosen for the All-Big Ten First Team.

Finally, senior outside Devyn Robinson was selected for the All-Big Ten Second Team!

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Badger Volleyball set to start spring season Friday

The Wisconsin Badgers’ volleyball team launches their spring season Friday, taking on Marquette at Oconomowoc High School at 7:30 PM CT.

The Wisconsin Badgers’ volleyball team launches their spring season Friday, taking on Marquette at Oconomowoc High School at 7:30 PM CT. The team fell short of defending their National Title from 2021 in the fall, losing to Pittsburgh in the Elite Eight.

With star players like Devyn Robinson, Anna Smrek and Sarah Franklin back on the court together again this spring, the Badgers remain one of the most dominant teams in the country.

On top of the fact that the Badgers are returning 12 letters winners, five starters and a libero from last year, they have some impressive newcomers. Minnesota transfer Carter Booth (6-foot-7) joins Wisconsin after making the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2022 as well as incoming freshman Saige Damrow from Howards Grove, Wisconsin, who won four high school state championships.

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