Tag: Lauren Carlini

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.

Madison, Wisconsin’s newest professional volleyball team releases 2025 schedule

Madison, Wisconsin’s newest professional volleyball squad releases 2025 schedule

The newly-formed LOVB Madison volleyball team released its 2025 season schedule in a social media post on Thursday.

League One Volleyball is set to launch in November 2024 following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. As of July 18, LOVB Madison Volleyball is one of six teams participating in League One action.

LOVB Omaha Volleyball, LOVB Salt Lake Volleyball and LOVB Austin Volleyball, LOVB Atlanta Volleyball and LOVB Houston Volleyball round out that list.

Beginning on Jan. 10, LOVB Madison’s season spans 13 weeks and concludes on April 4.

LOVB Madison is set to host six games in 2025. The group will open its home matches against LOVB Salt Lake and Omaha on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 in the Wisconsin Field House. All other home games will be played in Madison’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The team will also travel to Texas, Georgia, Utah and Nebraska throughout their 2025 window.

Three former Badgers are members of the 2025 roster, including Danielle Hart, 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year Lauren Carlini and 2022 AVCA Second-Team All-American Temi Thomas-Ailara.

Founded in 2020, LOVB strives to include the nation’s most talented athletes and focuses on its player development from junior volleyball clubs to the pros.

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.