TAMPA, Fla. -- Adding to her collection of awards in 2023, Wisconsin volleyball's Sarah Franklin can now add the most prestigious award to her resume - American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the year. The award was announced Friday morning at the AVCA All-American Banquet. 

The 6-foot-4 outside hitter now joins Badger middle blocker Dana Rettke, who won the award in 2021, as just the second player in program history to win the award.

After missing most of her freshman season due to injury, the Lake Worth, Florida, native tallied first-team All-Big Ten and AVCA North All-Region honors as a sophomore. After transferring from Michigan State to Wisconsin, Franklin was named to the 2022 All-Big Ten first team, AVCA Northeast first-team all-region, and collected AVCA Third-Team All-American status as a junior. In 2022, she was also named to the U.S. Collegiate National team.

Franklin's senior season is the best of her career both statistically and in accolades. In 2023, Franklin was a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. She was also named the AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year while earning all-region honors. Franklin was named Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Madison Regional, leading the Badgers to the NCAA National Semifinals. On Dec. 13, Franklin earned first-team All-America honors, just the fifth Badger to earn first-team honors. Additionally, Franklin was named the AVCA National Player of the Week on Nov. 28 to go along with three Big Ten Player of the Week awards this year. 

Statistically Franklin leads the Badgers with 4.15 kills per set, which ranked 28th nationally. She had double-figure kills in 29 matches this season, including five matches with 20-plus kills. Franklin also hit a season best .300 percent. She averaged 4.62 points per set, adding 0.53 blocks and 0.18 service aces per set. One of the Badgers' primary passers, Franklin added 1.93 digs per set, recording eight double-doubles.