Volleyball signs international class
November 11, 2020 | Volleyball
Badgers sign players from U.S., Poland and Canada
MADISON, Wis. – The 2021 class of the top-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team is truly international as the Badgers signed three top recruits from across the world, head coach Kelly Sheffield announced on Wednesday.
UW signed Lauren Jardine, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Highland, Utah; Julia Orzoł, a 6-foot outside hitter form Olsztyn, Poland; and Anna Smrek, a 6-foot-8 middle blocker from Welland, Ontario.
"There's a lot of talent in this class, with players that have the potential to be really good at this level," Sheffield said. "All three of them are driven to be the best players they can be and have all made decisions and sacrifices along the way to help them get where they want to go in this sport. They are really good kids, and are students that have done really well in the classroom.
"It's also a really nice benefit that all three have had really good coaching. That will help with their transition into Big Ten Volleyball. I am so fired up for their future's and for our program."
Highland, Utah/Lone Peak High School: Coach Reed Carlson
Club V Volleyball: Coach Reed Carlson
Sheffield on Jardine: "Lauren is an exciting prospect. She has the potential to be an elite attacker for us and a six-rotation player. She gets off the floor quick and has a whip for an arm. She's probably one of the better leapers we've brought in since we've been here. Lauren is a competitor who loves being in the gym and finding ways to get better. There is a hunger and a drive that I really like about her. She is graduating from high school early and will be joining us this spring."
Olsztyn, Poland/Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace Mistrzostwa Sportowego
GKS Wiezyca 2011 Stezyca: Coach Dawid Michor
Sheffield on Orzoł: "We played against Julia a couple of times when we took our team to Europe in the spring of 2019. She has played a lot of volleyball against some really good competition. What jumps out at me is that she is a complete player. She can attack with velocity from the front or back court on either pin. She is a really good passer, especially when she is going from pass to attack. And she has potential to be a point scorer from behind the service line. She has a strong spin serve and a really nice float serve."
Welland, Ontario/Notre Dame High School
Defensa Volleyball Club: Coaches Rob Fernly and Kevin Horne
Sheffield on Smrek: "Anna has the potential to be one of the next great middles that have come through here. At just over 6-foot-8 and touching close to 11 feet, it's certainly a combination that is intriguing and exciting. She is good off of one foot or two, and can get on the ball in a hurry. She puts up a really big block, and goes and gets the ball. I love her eagerness to learn and get better. Anna will be graduating from high school early and will be joining us this spring."
UW signed Lauren Jardine, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Highland, Utah; Julia Orzoł, a 6-foot outside hitter form Olsztyn, Poland; and Anna Smrek, a 6-foot-8 middle blocker from Welland, Ontario.
"There's a lot of talent in this class, with players that have the potential to be really good at this level," Sheffield said. "All three of them are driven to be the best players they can be and have all made decisions and sacrifices along the way to help them get where they want to go in this sport. They are really good kids, and are students that have done really well in the classroom.
"It's also a really nice benefit that all three have had really good coaching. That will help with their transition into Big Ten Volleyball. I am so fired up for their future's and for our program."
Lauren Jardine
6-2 – Outside HitterHighland, Utah/Lone Peak High School: Coach Reed Carlson
Club V Volleyball: Coach Reed Carlson
- 2020 Under Armour First-Team All-American
- Currently ranked No. 15 on the PrepVolleyball Top 150
- 2020 Utah 6A state champions
- Finalist for the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year
- 2019 PrepVolleyball All-American
- 2019 First-Team All-State
- Two-time AVCA National Player of the Week
- 2020 AAU All-American, leading her team to second place finish
- Approach jump of 10-feet-6
- Two-time Academic All-Region and All-State
Sheffield on Jardine: "Lauren is an exciting prospect. She has the potential to be an elite attacker for us and a six-rotation player. She gets off the floor quick and has a whip for an arm. She's probably one of the better leapers we've brought in since we've been here. Lauren is a competitor who loves being in the gym and finding ways to get better. There is a hunger and a drive that I really like about her. She is graduating from high school early and will be joining us this spring."
✈️🇺🇸Lauren Jardine🇺🇸✈️
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) November 11, 2020
- 2020 Under Armour First Team All-American
- #15 on https://t.co/qJITwnovz7 Top 150 Players for the class of 2021.
- 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist
- 2019 All-American (https://t.co/qJITwnovz7)
- 2019 All-State First Team pic.twitter.com/tLY8gIXiqc
Julia Orzoł
6-0 – Outside HitterOlsztyn, Poland/Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace Mistrzostwa Sportowego
GKS Wiezyca 2011 Stezyca: Coach Dawid Michor
- Member of the Polish Youth National Team
- Team won the 2020 Polish Junior Vice Championship
- Named Best Spiker of the 2020 Polish U19 Championships
- MVP of the 2019 Polish U19 Championships, leading her team to first place
- MVP of the 2018 Polish U17 Championships, leading her team to first place
- MVP of the semifinal match at the 2018 Polish U19 Championship, leading her team to first place
- Earned Prime Minister Scholarship for outstanding academic and athletic achievement
Sheffield on Orzoł: "We played against Julia a couple of times when we took our team to Europe in the spring of 2019. She has played a lot of volleyball against some really good competition. What jumps out at me is that she is a complete player. She can attack with velocity from the front or back court on either pin. She is a really good passer, especially when she is going from pass to attack. And she has potential to be a point scorer from behind the service line. She has a strong spin serve and a really nice float serve."
✈️🇵🇱Julia Orzoł🇵🇱✈️
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) November 11, 2020
- Member of the National Volleyball Polish Youth Team
- Scholarship of the Prime Minister for Outstanding Academic and Athletic achievements
- MVP of 2019 Polish U19 Championships. Her team claimed the title
- Best Spiker of the 2020 Polish U19 Championships pic.twitter.com/dTWsMFfTce
Anna Smrek
6-8 – Middle BlockerWelland, Ontario/Notre Dame High School
Defensa Volleyball Club: Coaches Rob Fernly and Kevin Horne
- Played for the Canadian Youth National Team, 2018-20
- Won silver medal at 2018 NORCECA Championship in Honduras
- Competed in the 2019 World Under-18 Championship in Egypt
- Won silver medals at the 2018 OVA Championships, playing with U17 and U18
- Finished fourth in 2018 U15 Canadian Nationals
- Named Best Blocker at the 2020 Washington Capitol Hill Tournament
Sheffield on Smrek: "Anna has the potential to be one of the next great middles that have come through here. At just over 6-foot-8 and touching close to 11 feet, it's certainly a combination that is intriguing and exciting. She is good off of one foot or two, and can get on the ball in a hurry. She puts up a really big block, and goes and gets the ball. I love her eagerness to learn and get better. Anna will be graduating from high school early and will be joining us this spring."
✈️🇨🇦Anna Smrek🇨🇦✈️
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) November 11, 2020
- Played for the Canadian Youth National Team 2018-2020
- Second Place at 2018 NORCECA Championship
- 2020 Best Blocker in Washington Capitol Hill Tournament pic.twitter.com/1zSW2zdy5w
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