Tag: Dana Rettke

Wisconsin volleyball stars enjoy Olympic opening ceremony with NBA legend Steph Curry

Wisconsin volleyball legends enjoy Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony with Steph Curry

Just days after snapping a photo with rapper Snoop Dogg, former Wisconsin volleyball stars Lauren Carlini and Dana Rettke were pictured alongside NBA legend Steph Curry at the Summer Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.

Staged along Paris, France’s Seine River, the opening ceremony included a majority of the 592 American athletes selected to participate in the Olympic Games this summer.

Several crossovers between powerful sporting figures, including USA Volleyball’s women’s roster and four-time NBA champion Steph Curry, took place on Friday before the ceremony.

The Americans were together on one vessel as the Olympic procession floated down the Seine.

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Carlini and Rettke will represent the Badgers for the first time on an Olympic stage this Monday at 10:00 a.m. CT. The red, white and blue will square off against China before a match vs. Serbia on July 31.

Carlini will play setter while Rettke will play middle blocker during the USAโ€™s quest for a gold medal.

LOOK: Wisconsin volleyball legends pictured with rapper Snoop Dogg

LOOK: Wisconsin volleyball legends pictured with Snoop Dogg

You never know who you’ll run into at the Summer Olympics.

On Wednesday, former Wisconsin volleyball stars Lauren Carlini and Dana Rettke were pictured alongside legendary rapper Snoop Dogg ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

As a contributor to NBC’s coverage of the event, Snoop made his rounds to several Olympic squads today — including the 2024 USA Women’s Volleyball Team. The famous rapper appears to have bumped into Rettke and Carlini’s group either before or after a practice.

Carlini and Rettke will represent the Badgers and the USA when the Olympic games begin later this week. The contest will serve as the first Olympic experience for both former Badgers.

Carlini will play setter for the 2024 team while Rettke will play middle blocker during the USA’s quest for a gold medal.

Carlini was previously an AVCA First-Team All-American and All-Big Ten Team member in four consecutive seasons as a Badger. She also took home 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year nods and Big Ten Setter of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.

Rettke, arguably the greatest player in Wisconsin history, was an AVCA First-Team All-American in all four years, and named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year twice in 2020 and 2022.

She also received 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year, 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2019, 2020, and 2021 AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year nods from 2019-21.

The crew opens Olympic action with China on July 29 at South Paris Arena.

Two former Wisconsin volleyball stars named to 2024 USA women’s Olympic volleyball roster

Two former Wisconsin volleyball stars named to 2024 Women’s National Volleyball Olympic Roster

Former Wisconsin volleyball stars Lauren Carlini and Dana Rettke will represent UW as members of the United States 2024 Women’s Olympic Volleyball Roster in Paris, France this summer.

USA Volleyball, the national governing body of volleyball in the United States, announced the 12-woman team on Wednesday. Both Rettke and Carlini will make their Olympic debuts in Paris.

Carlini, alongside Illinois alumnus Jordyn Poulter, will play setter for the 2024 team while Rettke, arguably the greatest player in Wisconsin history, will play middle blocker during her quest for gold.

Carlini, an Aurora, Illinois native, was an AVCA First-Team All-American and All-Big Ten Team member in four consecutive seasons as a Badger. She also took home 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year nods and Big Ten Setter of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.

After being named the 2012 Gatorade National Player of the Year in volleyball, Carlini won 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and experienced UW’s title game run the same year.

Like Carlini, Rettke earned nearly every collegiate award possible during her career with Wisconsin. An AVCA First-Team All-American in all four years, Rettke was named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year twice in 2020 and 2022.

Her most infamous moment arrived during Wisconsin’s championship-winning season against Nebraska in 2021. As a perennial title favorite, the triumph was Rettke’s first and only during her time as a Badger.

Rettke also received 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year, 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2019, 2020, and 2021 AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year nods from 2019-21.

Captained by three-time Olympian Karch Kiraly, the U.S. Women play their final preliminary round of the Volleyball Nations League this week in Fukuoka, Japan.

Former Badger Dana Rettke wins Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year

Former Wisconsin volleyball legend Dana Rettke added to her highly decorated trophy case on Wednesday morning, as she was named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year:

Former Wisconsin volleyball legend, Dana Rettke, added to her highly decorated trophy case on Wednesday morning, as she was named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year.

Related: LOOK: Johnny Davis gets his Washington Wizards jersey number

The Wisconsin middle blocker first won the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year award in 2019 after leading the conference in blocks. It is not surprising to see Rettke win the prestigious award for the second time after she led the Badgers to a National Championship last season. The Riverside, Ill., native also set the Badgers’ career block record in 2021 en route to winning the AVCA National Player of the Year.

It is sad to see Rettke leaving Wisconsin, but I am excited to see her continue her dominance for her professional team in Italy and the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team.

How to watch Wisconsin volleyball’s NCAA Regional Semifinal vs. UCLA

The Badgers continue their NCAA Tournament journey on Thursday

The No. 4 overall seeded Wisconsin Badgers rolled into the NCAA Regional Semifinal with back-to-back sweeps to begin their NCAA Tournament journey.

Wisconsin gets to stay home at the UW Field House on Thursday when the UCLA Bruins come to town. The Bruins won their first two matches at home before traveling to Madison.

Wisconsin and UCLA are set to do battle at 4 p.m. CT, and ESPNU will have the action live from the UW Field House.

If the Badgers come out on top, the Regional Final is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. CT against the winner of No. 5 Baylor and No. 12 Minnesota.

Dana Rettke named Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Week

The star middle blocker earns the weekly honor

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After a massive 2-0 weekend for Wisconsin volleyball with wins over No. 6 Ohio State and No. 14 Penn State, star middle blocker Dana Rettke was named Big Ten Player of the Week in the conference.

Rettke averaged nearly 4.5 kills per set in the nine sets that Wisconsin played throughout the weekend. She had a season-best 24 kills in the win over Penn State that went the full five sets. After back-to-back home wins, Rettke and the Badgers head on the road for a pair of Big Ten matchups this week.

Next up for Wisconsin is No. 6 Nebraska on Wednesday before they go to West Lafayette to battle No. 12 Purdue on Sunday.

Wisconsin Volleyball releases their 2021 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin volleyball releases their 2021 non-conference schedule:

After a terrific 2020-2021 season ended in a national semifinal loss for Wisconsin volleyball, the Badgers have key pieces from a year ago returning to Madison to make another run.

With 2019-20 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year Dana Rettke back, Wisconsin will start the year once again seen as a top program in the country.

Earlier today, the Badgers revealed their non-conference schedule in 2021 including a date for their preseason red and white scrimmage at the Wisconsin Field House. The Wisconsin Big Ten schedule was released last month, but we now know when and where the season begins for the Badgers.

Here is a look at Wisconsin volleyball’s entire non-conference schedule in 2021:

Wisconsin volleyball star Dana Rettke named as a Honda Award finalist

Rettke named as a finalist

For the second straight year, Wisconsin volleyball star Dana Rettke has been named as a finalist for the Honda Award. The award recognizes the “best of the best in collegiate athletics,” and Rettke is one of four finalists. Rettke is joined by Logan Eggleston from Texas, Madison Lilley of Kentucky and Stephanie Samedy from Minnesota.

The list of Rettke’s accolades could fill the UW Fieldhouse walls, but they include being a four-time first-team All-American by VolleyballMag.com and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker was also a four-time Big Ten Conference first-team honoree.

The award will be presented on June 28 at 9 PM ET during a CBS Sports Network special.

WATCH: Wisconsin volleyball releases hype video ahead of Final Four matchup

Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup that will be broadcast on ESPN, the Badgers released a hype video featuring highlights from the B…

After what has been an amazing week, including beating the Florida Gators in the Elite Eight and the naming of six Badgers as All-Americans, Wisconsin volleyball will face the Texas Longhorns on Thursday night in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Related: How to watch Wisconsin volleyball in the Final Four

Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup, the Badgers released a hype video featuring highlights from the Badgers’ last matchup against the Gators. The clip features great blocks from seniors Molly Haggerty and Dana Rettke, as well as some outstanding digs from Giorgia Civita.

Six Wisconsin volleyball players named as All-Americans

Only two days after an electrifying victory over the Florida Gators in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Wiscons…

Only two days after an electrifying victory over the Florida Gators in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Wisconsin volleyball announced on their Twitter that six Badgers have been named All-Americans.

Related: How to watch Wisconsin volleyball in the Final Four

Those honored include seniors Dana Rettke, Sydney Hilley, Lauren Barnes, Molly Haggerty and Grace Loberg, as well as freshman right-side hitter Devyn Robinson. Dana Rettke was named a First Team All-American for the fourth time in her career and is the first player in Wisconsin program history to ever accomplish this feat. Rettke is one of only six players to ever be named as a four-time First Team All-American in the history of collegiate volleyball.

These honors represent just how special the Wisconsin volleyball team has been this season, both individually and as a team. The Badgers, led by six All-Americans, will face the Texas Longhorns on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CT in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Below are Wisconsin volleyball’s All-Americans from the 2021 season: