MADISON, Wis. – For the third-straight year, Sydney Hilley has been named the Big Ten Conference Setter of the Year on a vote by league coaches, the conference announced on Wednesday. In addition, Julia Orzol was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Hilley becomes the first three-time Big Ten Setter of the Year since the award was begun in 2012. The 6-foot Hilley currently ranks second nationally with 11.96 assists per set. She has set the Badgers to a Big Ten-leading .286 hitting percentage, which ranks eighth nationally. The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native is averaging season bests of 2.55 digs per set, recording a team-best 11 double-doubles this season, and 0.73 blocks per set.

Orzol becomes the sixth UW player to earn Freshman of the Year honors, including the third in the last six years. The 6-foot outside hitter ranks second on the team with 3.01 kills per set and fourth with 2.15 digs per set. A native of Olsztyn, Poland, Orzol has recorded double-figure kills in 15 matches this season and double-figure digs in eight matches, tallying six double-doubles on the year.

Orzol was also named to the seven-player All-Freshman team, earning unanimous selection.

Hilley, Rettke named first-team All-Big Ten
Hilley earns her fourth-straight All-Big Ten honor and was joined on the first team by teammate Dana Rettke. The Badgers were two of four athletes who earned unanimous selection.

Rettke and Minnesota's Stephanie Sameday are the first five-time, first-team All-Big Ten honorees. Rettke currently ranks fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten with a .442 hitting percentage. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker also ranks fourth nationally and second in the Big Ten with 1.44 blocks per set and leads UW with 3.48 kills per set.

Barnes, Robinson earn second-team honors
Graduate student Lauren Barnes and sophomore Devyn Robinson were named the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Barnes repeats on the second-team after also being recognized in 2020.  The 5-foot-8 libero leads the Badgers and ranks 10^th in the Big Ten with 4.23 digs per set. In Big Ten-only matches, Barnes ranked fifth with 4.54 digs per set. The Naperville, Illinois, native also ranks second on the UW team with 28 service aces, averaging 0.28 per set.

Robinson, who started the season on the right side and moved to middle blocker after the injury to Danielle Hart, ranks second on the team and seventh in the Big Ten with a .347 hitting percentage. The 6-foot-2 Robinson ranks fourth on the Badgers with 2.44 kills per set while adding 0.93 blocks per set.

In addition, graduate student Grace Loberg was named the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner for sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

Wisconsin hosts NCAA first and second rounds
Wisconsin (25-3) was selected as the No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and hosts first and second round matches on Friday and Saturday in the UW Field House. Texas Tech (17-12) takes on Florida Gulf Coast (26-5) in the opening first-round match on Friday at 4:30 p.m. before Wisconsin (25-3) faces off against Colgate (18-9) at 7 p.m. First-round winners advance to the second round of the tournament on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Field House.
 
2021 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
Player of the Year: Stephanie Samedy, RS-Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Defensive Player of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Fr., L/DS, Nebraska
Setter of the Year: Sydney Hilley, Grad., Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Julia Orzol, OH, Wisconsin
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): Dave Shondell, Purdue
 
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN*
Megan Cooney, Grad., OH/OPP, Illinois
Rainelle Jones, Sr., MB, Maryland
Jess Mruzik, So., OH, Michigan
Sarah Franklin, So., OH, Michigan State
CC McGraw, Sr., L/DS, Minnesota
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, RS-Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Madi Kubik, Jr., OH, Nebraska
Lexi Rodriguez, Fr., L/DS, Nebraska
Lauren Stivrins, Sr., MB, Nebraska
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Jr., OH, Northwestern
Mac Podraza, Jr., S, Ohio State
RYLEE RADER, So., MB, Ohio State
Kaitlyn Hord, Sr., MB, Penn State
Jonni Parker, Sr., RS, Penn State
Hayley Bush, RS-Sr., S, Purdue
Grace Cleveland, Sr., OH, Purdue
Caitlyn Newton, RS-Sr., OH, Purdue
SYDNEY HILLEY, Grad., S, Wisconsin
DANA RETTKE, Grad., MB, Wisconsin
 
SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Courtney Buzzerio, Sr., RS, Iowa
Jenna Wenaas, So., OH, Minnesota
Nicklin Hames, Sr., S, Nebraska
Emily Londot, So., OPP, Ohio State
Jenna Hampton, Sr., L/DS, Penn State
Jena Otec, RS-Sr., L/DS, Purdue
Lauren Barnes, Grad., L/DS, Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson, So., MB/RS, Wisconsin
 
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Milan Gomillion, L/DS, Maryland
Jacque Boney, MB, Michigan
Lindsay Krause, OH, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, L/DS, Nebraska
ARICA DAVIS, MB, Ohio State
Raven Colvin, MB, Purdue
JULIA ORZOL, OH, Wisconsin
 
SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Jessica Nunge, Jr., OH/RS, Illinois
Kaley Rammelsberg, Jr., MB, Indiana
Bailey Ortega, So., S, Iowa
Maddie Naumann, Sr., DS, Maryland
Hannah Grant, RS-So., L/DS, Michigan
Rebecka Poljan, Sr., MB, Michigan State
Airi Miyabe, RS-Sr., OH, Minnesota
Kayla Caffey, Sr., MB, Nebraska
Natalie Chizzo, So., OH, Northwestern
Hannah Gruensfelder, Sr., L/DS, Ohio State
Annie Cate Fitzpatrick, So., OH, Penn State
Marissa Hornung, Sr., DS, Purdue
Shealyn McNamara, Sr., MB, Rutgers
Grace Loberg, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
 
ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections
* - additional member named to team due to tie in voting