Photo by: Greg Anderson
Haggerty, Williams earn Preseason All-Big Ten honors
August 15, 2017 | Volleyball
Badgers picked fifth in preseason coaches' poll
MADISON, Wis. – Junior Tionna Williams and sophomore Molly Haggerty of the Wisconsin volleyball team were named to the 15-player Preseason All-Big Ten Conference team, the league office announced on Tuesday. In addition, the Badgers were picked to finish fifth in the 2017 conference race, according to a vote of league coaches.
Haggerty, a 6-1 outside hitter, is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She led the Badgers and ranked seventh in the conference with 3.41 kills per set last season. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native recorded double-figure kills in 18 matches and 20-plus kills in five matches. Haggerty had nine double-doubles on the season as she averaged 2.44 digs per set. Haggerty earned third-team All-America honors by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and second-team honors by Volleyball Magazine. She was named the AVCA Northeast Region Freshman of the Year and was a five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week in 2016.
A 6-2 middle blocker, Williams led the Badgers and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 1.27 blocks per set as a sophomore. She also ranked second on the team with a .326 hitting percentage, ranking 11th in the conference. Williams added 2.27 kills per game, which ranked fourth in the squad. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Williams was a third-team AVCA All-American and a member of the 2016 All-Big Ten team. She was also a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in 2016.
Wisconsin was picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll. Penn State was picked to win the 2017 Big Ten title followed by Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State, respectively.
2017 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM*
*Additional honorees due to ties
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS
2017 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Haggerty, a 6-1 outside hitter, is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She led the Badgers and ranked seventh in the conference with 3.41 kills per set last season. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native recorded double-figure kills in 18 matches and 20-plus kills in five matches. Haggerty had nine double-doubles on the season as she averaged 2.44 digs per set. Haggerty earned third-team All-America honors by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and second-team honors by Volleyball Magazine. She was named the AVCA Northeast Region Freshman of the Year and was a five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week in 2016.
A 6-2 middle blocker, Williams led the Badgers and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 1.27 blocks per set as a sophomore. She also ranked second on the team with a .326 hitting percentage, ranking 11th in the conference. Williams added 2.27 kills per game, which ranked fourth in the squad. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Williams was a third-team AVCA All-American and a member of the 2016 All-Big Ten team. She was also a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in 2016.
Wisconsin was picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll. Penn State was picked to win the 2017 Big Ten title followed by Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State, respectively.
2017 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM*
| Name | School | Yr. | Position |
| Ali Bastianelli | Illinois | Jr. | MB |
| Jordyn Poulter | Illinois | Jr. | S |
| Claire Kieffer-Wright | Michigan | Sr. | MB |
| Alyssa Garvelink | Michigan State | Sr. | MB |
| Alexis Hart | Minnesota | So. | OH |
| Molly Lohman | Minnesota | Sr. | MB |
| SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON | Minnesota | Jr. | S |
| MIKAELA FOECKE | Nebraska | Jr. | OH |
| Kelly Hunter | Nebraska | Sr. | S |
| Ali Frantti | Penn State | Sr. | OH |
| Simone Lee | Penn State | Sr. | OH |
| Haleigh Washington | Penn State | Sr. | MB |
| Danielle Cuttino | Purdue | Sr. | OH |
| Molly Haggerty | Wisconsin | So. | OH |
| Tionna Williams | Wisconsin | Jr. | MB |
*Additional honorees due to ties
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS
2017 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
- Penn State
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- Michigan State
- Wisconsin
- Purdue
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Northwestern
- Indiana
- Rutgers
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
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