MADISON, Wis. – A record seven members of the Wisconsin volleyball team have earned 2020-21 All-Big Ten Conference honors, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Senior
Sydney Hilley was named Big Ten Setter of the Year for the second-straight season while also earning her third-straight All-Big Ten honor. She was joined on the first team by seniors
Grace Loberg and
Dana Rettke as well as freshman
Devyn Robinson. Hilley and Rettke were unanimous selections.Rettke becomes just the second Badger volleyball player to earn four first-team mentions, joining Lauren Carlini on the select list. Robinson was also named to the All-Freshman team.
Three Badgers also earned second-team distinction –
Lauren Barnes,
Molly Haggerty and
Danielle Hart. Senior
Nicole Shanahan was named the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree.
The four first-team All-Big Ten equals the total from the 1997 season while the seven total honorees surpass last season's total of six All-Big Ten honors.
Hilley has set the Badgers to a Big Ten-leading .342 hitting percentage, which ranks third nationally. The 6-foot setter puts up 10.87 assists per set, which ranks third in the Big Ten, and ranks second on the team with 2.18 digs per set while adding 0.53 blocks per set.
The Badgers are the top seed in the NCAA Championship and will receive a first-round bye in the tournament. Wisconsin (15-0) takes on the winner of the first-round match between Bowling Green (22-1) and Weber State (18-1) in the second round at 6 p.m. live on ESPN3 in the CHI Health Center Convention Center.
Wisconsin is competing in its 24th overall and eighth-straight NCAA tournament under head coach
Kelly Sheffield. The Badgers are 51-23 all time in the tournament and have finished as the NCAA runners up three times – 2000, 2013 and 2019.
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Taylor Kuper, Jr., L, Illinois
Courtney Buzzerio, Jr., S/RS, Iowa
Erika Pritchard, Sr., OH, Maryland
Taylor Landfair, Fr., OH, Minnesota
REGAN PITTMAN, Sr., MB, MINNESOTA
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, Sr., OPP, MINNESOTA
Nicklin Hames, Jr., S, Nebraska
LAUREN STIVRINS, Sr., MB, NEBRASKA
LEXI SUN, Sr., OH, NEBRASKA
Temi Thomas Ailara, So., OPP, Northwestern
EMILY LONDOT, Fr., RS, OHIO STATE
Mac Podraza, So., S, Ohio State
Kaitlyn Hord, Jr., MH, Penn State
Hayley Bush, Jr., S, Purdue
Grace Cleveland, Jr., OH, Purdue
Caitlyn Newton, Sr., OH, Purdue
Jena Otec, Sr., L, Purdue
Inna Balyko, Jr., S, Rutgers
SYDNEY HILLEY, Sr., S, WISCONSIN
Grace Loberg, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
DANA RETTKE, Sr., MB, WISCONSIN
Devyn Robinson, Fr., RS, Wisconsin
ALL CAPS denotes unanimous selection
Additional members named to team due to ties
SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Megan Cooney, Sr., OH, Illinois
Adanna Rollins, Jr., OH, Minnesota
Vanja Bukilic, Jr., OH, Ohio State
Kylie Murr, So., L, Ohio State
Rylee Rader, Fr., MB, Ohio State
Gabby Blossom, Jr., S, Penn State
Jonni Parker, Jr., RS, Penn State
Lauren Barnes, Sr., L, Wisconsin
Molly Haggerty, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Danielle Hart, Sr., MB, Wisconsin
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Jess Mruzik, OH, Michigan
Taylor Landfair, OH, Minnesota
Melani Shaffmaster, S, Minnesota
Emily Londot, RS, Ohio State
Rylee Rader, MB, Ohio State
Taylor Trammell, MB, Purdue
Devyn Robinson, RS, Wisconsin
Player of the Year: Stephanie Samedy, Sr., Minnesota
Defensive Player of the Year: Jena Otec, Sr., Purdue
Setter of the Year: Sydney Hilley, Sr., Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Emily Londot, Ohio State
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): Jen Flynn Oldenburg, Ohio State
SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Sophie Gregus, Illinois
Leyla Blackwell, Indiana
Edina Schmidt, Iowa
Chloe Prejean, Maryland
Maddie Dowd, Michigan
Alyssa Chronowski, Michigan State
Bayley McMenimen, Minnesota
Hayley Densberger, Nebraska
Ivey Whalen, Northwestern
Lauren Witte, Ohio State
Jenna Hampton, Penn State
Marissa Hornung, Purdue
Kamila Cieslik, Rutgers
Nicole Shanahan, Wisconsin