Five Badgers recognized with Big Ten awards
November 29, 2023 | Volleyball
Sarah Franklin named Big Ten Player of the Year
MADISON, Wis. – Sarah Franklin, a senior outside hitter on the third-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team, has been named the 2023 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, the league office announced on Thursday morning. Franklin was also a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection, being joined on the first team by sophomore Carter Booth and junior Anna Smrek. Senior Devyn Robinson earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Franklin is the sixth Badger to be named the Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Dana Rettke was honored in 2019. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 4.17 kills, racking up double-figure kills in 23-of-29 matches this season. In the backcourt, Franklin adds 2.02 digs per set with seven double-doubles on the season. The senior tallies 4.64 points per set, while adding 0.52 blocks and 0.19 service aces per set. Finishing the regular season strong, Franklin earned AVCA National Player of the Week on Tuesday to go along with three Big Ten Player of the Week awards this year. She earns her third first-team All-Big Ten honor, earning awards in 2020 and 2022.
A 6-foot-7 middle blocker, Booth leads the Big Ten and rank fourth nationally with 1.55 blocks per set while also leading the conference and ranking fourth in the NCAA with a .440 hitting percentage. The sophomore also adds 1.77 kills per set. Booth earns her second straight first-team All-Big Ten honor after being recognized in 2022 at Minnesota.
Smrek earns her first All-Big Ten honor, having a break-out season in 2023. The 6-foot-9 right-side hitter ranks second on the team with 2.62 kills per set, putting away double-figure kills in 10 matches. Hitting a season-best .399, the opposite comes in at third in the Big Ten and 20th in the NCAA in attack percentage. She ranks third on the team with 1.09 blocks per set.
Robinson ranks third on the team with 2.58 kills per set, tallying double-figure kills in 10 matches. The 6-foot-2 right-side hitter tied her career high with 21 kills vs. Arkansas in late August. She also adds 0.89 blocks per set, which ranks fourth on the squad. Robinson earns her third-straight All-Big Ten honor after earning first-team awards in 2021 and 2022.
Senior MJ Hammill represents Wisconsin with the Big Ten Sportsmanship award for sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Honorees must also be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The 6-foot-2 setter puts up 4.87 assists per set as part of the Badgers' 6-2 offense. Hammill also adds 2.23 digs per set.
No. 3 Wisconsin (27-3) was selected as the top regional seed and the No. 3 seed overall in the NCAA tournament, and will host first and second round matches on Thursday and Friday in the UW Field House. Northern Iowa (26-6) takes on Miami (17-11) the opening first-round match on Thursday at 5 p.m. before Wisconsin (26-3) faces off against Jackson State (17-12) at 7:30 p.m. First-round winners advance to the second round of the tournament on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Field House. All matches stream live on ESPN+.
Defensive Player of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Jr., L, Nebraska
Setter of the Year: Bergen Reilly, Fr., Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: Harper Murray, OH, Nebraska
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): John Cook, Nebraska
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Raina Terry, Sr., OH, Illinois
CAMRYN HAWORTH, Jr., S, Indiana
Taylor Landfair, RS-Jr., OH, Minnesota
Kylie Murr, Gr., L, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Jr., OPP, Nebraska
Harper Murray, Fr., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, Fr., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Jr., L, Nebraska
Julia Sangiacomo, Sr., OH, Northwestern
EMILY LONDOT, Sr., OH, Ohio State
JESS MRUZIK, Sr., OH, Penn State
Mac Podraza, Gr., S, Penn State
EVA HUDSON, So., OH, Purdue
Raven Colvin, Jr., MB, Purdue
Chloe Chicoine, Fr., OH, Purdue
SARAH FRANKLIN, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Carter Booth, So., MB, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Jr., OPP, Wisconsin
SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Ramsey Gary, Fr., L, Indiana
Kaley Rammelsberg, Gr., MB, Indiana
Amani McArthur, Gr., MB, Michigan State
Taylah Holdem, Fr., OH, Michigan State
Melani Shaffmaster, Sr., S, Minnesota
Lydia Grote, Jr., OPP, Minnesota
Andi Jackson, Fr., MB, Nebraska
Bekka Allick, So., MB, Nebraska
Rylee Rader, Sr., MB, Ohio State
Camryn Hannah, Sr., OH, Penn State
Maddie Schermerhorn, Gr., L, Purdue
Alissa Kinkela, RS-So., OH, Rutgers
Devyn Robinson, Sr., OPP, Wisconsin
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
RAMSEY GARY, L, Indiana
Taylah Holdem, OH, Michigan State
BERGEN REILLY, S, Nebraska
HARPER MURRAY, OH, Nebraska
Andi Jackson, MB, Nebraska
CHLOE CHICOINE, OH, Purdue
Taylor Anderson, S, Purdue
SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Kennedy Collins, Gr., MB, Illinois
Candela Alonso-Corcelles, So., OH, Indiana
Bailey Ortega, Sr., S, Iowa
Zoe Huang, Jr., S, Maryland
Brooke Humphrey, Sr., DS/L, Michigan
Lydia Grote, Jr., OPP, Minnesota
Julia Bishop, Jr., S, Michigan State
Maggie Mendelson, So., MB, Nebraska
Natalie Chizzo, Sr., OH, Northwestern
Sarah Sue Morbitzer, Sr., DS, Ohio State
Macy Van Den Elzen, Sr., OPP, Penn State
Lizzie Carr, R-Fr., MB, Purdue
Kristina Grkovic, Sr., MB, Rutgers
MJ Hammill, Sr., S, Wisconsin
ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections
Franklin is the sixth Badger to be named the Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Dana Rettke was honored in 2019. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 4.17 kills, racking up double-figure kills in 23-of-29 matches this season. In the backcourt, Franklin adds 2.02 digs per set with seven double-doubles on the season. The senior tallies 4.64 points per set, while adding 0.52 blocks and 0.19 service aces per set. Finishing the regular season strong, Franklin earned AVCA National Player of the Week on Tuesday to go along with three Big Ten Player of the Week awards this year. She earns her third first-team All-Big Ten honor, earning awards in 2020 and 2022.
A 6-foot-7 middle blocker, Booth leads the Big Ten and rank fourth nationally with 1.55 blocks per set while also leading the conference and ranking fourth in the NCAA with a .440 hitting percentage. The sophomore also adds 1.77 kills per set. Booth earns her second straight first-team All-Big Ten honor after being recognized in 2022 at Minnesota.
Smrek earns her first All-Big Ten honor, having a break-out season in 2023. The 6-foot-9 right-side hitter ranks second on the team with 2.62 kills per set, putting away double-figure kills in 10 matches. Hitting a season-best .399, the opposite comes in at third in the Big Ten and 20th in the NCAA in attack percentage. She ranks third on the team with 1.09 blocks per set.
Robinson ranks third on the team with 2.58 kills per set, tallying double-figure kills in 10 matches. The 6-foot-2 right-side hitter tied her career high with 21 kills vs. Arkansas in late August. She also adds 0.89 blocks per set, which ranks fourth on the squad. Robinson earns her third-straight All-Big Ten honor after earning first-team awards in 2021 and 2022.
Senior MJ Hammill represents Wisconsin with the Big Ten Sportsmanship award for sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Honorees must also be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The 6-foot-2 setter puts up 4.87 assists per set as part of the Badgers' 6-2 offense. Hammill also adds 2.23 digs per set.
No. 3 Wisconsin (27-3) was selected as the top regional seed and the No. 3 seed overall in the NCAA tournament, and will host first and second round matches on Thursday and Friday in the UW Field House. Northern Iowa (26-6) takes on Miami (17-11) the opening first-round match on Thursday at 5 p.m. before Wisconsin (26-3) faces off against Jackson State (17-12) at 7:30 p.m. First-round winners advance to the second round of the tournament on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Field House. All matches stream live on ESPN+.
2023 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
Player of the Year: Sarah Franklin, Sr., OH, WisconsinDefensive Player of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Jr., L, Nebraska
Setter of the Year: Bergen Reilly, Fr., Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: Harper Murray, OH, Nebraska
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): John Cook, Nebraska
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Raina Terry, Sr., OH, Illinois
CAMRYN HAWORTH, Jr., S, Indiana
Taylor Landfair, RS-Jr., OH, Minnesota
Kylie Murr, Gr., L, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Jr., OPP, Nebraska
Harper Murray, Fr., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, Fr., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Jr., L, Nebraska
Julia Sangiacomo, Sr., OH, Northwestern
EMILY LONDOT, Sr., OH, Ohio State
JESS MRUZIK, Sr., OH, Penn State
Mac Podraza, Gr., S, Penn State
EVA HUDSON, So., OH, Purdue
Raven Colvin, Jr., MB, Purdue
Chloe Chicoine, Fr., OH, Purdue
SARAH FRANKLIN, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Carter Booth, So., MB, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Jr., OPP, Wisconsin
SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Ramsey Gary, Fr., L, Indiana
Kaley Rammelsberg, Gr., MB, Indiana
Amani McArthur, Gr., MB, Michigan State
Taylah Holdem, Fr., OH, Michigan State
Melani Shaffmaster, Sr., S, Minnesota
Lydia Grote, Jr., OPP, Minnesota
Andi Jackson, Fr., MB, Nebraska
Bekka Allick, So., MB, Nebraska
Rylee Rader, Sr., MB, Ohio State
Camryn Hannah, Sr., OH, Penn State
Maddie Schermerhorn, Gr., L, Purdue
Alissa Kinkela, RS-So., OH, Rutgers
Devyn Robinson, Sr., OPP, Wisconsin
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
RAMSEY GARY, L, Indiana
Taylah Holdem, OH, Michigan State
BERGEN REILLY, S, Nebraska
HARPER MURRAY, OH, Nebraska
Andi Jackson, MB, Nebraska
CHLOE CHICOINE, OH, Purdue
Taylor Anderson, S, Purdue
SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Kennedy Collins, Gr., MB, Illinois
Candela Alonso-Corcelles, So., OH, Indiana
Bailey Ortega, Sr., S, Iowa
Zoe Huang, Jr., S, Maryland
Brooke Humphrey, Sr., DS/L, Michigan
Lydia Grote, Jr., OPP, Minnesota
Julia Bishop, Jr., S, Michigan State
Maggie Mendelson, So., MB, Nebraska
Natalie Chizzo, Sr., OH, Northwestern
Sarah Sue Morbitzer, Sr., DS, Ohio State
Macy Van Den Elzen, Sr., OPP, Penn State
Lizzie Carr, R-Fr., MB, Purdue
Kristina Grkovic, Sr., MB, Rutgers
MJ Hammill, Sr., S, Wisconsin
ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections
Players Mentioned
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MB/RS
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