MADISON, Wis. – A total of six players of the Wisconsin volleyball team earned All-Big Ten honors, announced Tuesday afternoon by the league conference. Carter Booth, Sarah Franklin, Charlie Fuerbringer, Julia Orzol, Lola Schumacher, and Anna Smrek all earned post-season honors. For a second season in a row, outside hitter Sarah Franklin was named Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Year.

Both Sarah Franklin and Anna Smrek were named First Team All-Big Ten. Carter Booth, Charlie Fuerbringer , and Julia Orzol were named to the Second Team, while both Fuerbringer and Lola Schumacher were named to the All-Freshman team. Orzol also earned All-Sportsmanship.

This season, fifth year senior Sarah Franklin improved in nearly every statistic from a season ago in which she was also named Big Ten Player of the Year. In conference play, Franklin totaled 308 kills for an average of 4.40 kills per set, while hitting .306 (308 – 69 – 780). In every Big Ten match, Franklin recorded double-figure kill totals, including nine 15+ kill matches, and two 20+ kill matches. As a six-rotation player, Franklin also chipped in with 2.14 digs per set and totaled four double-doubles (kills and digs) in conference play. The six-foot-four outside hitter was also named Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season. This marks her fourth season as a First Team All-Big Ten honoree, and becomes the only player in program history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year. Franklin also becomes just the sixth player in Big Ten Volleyball to earn multiple awards as B1G Player of the Year. Marianne Smith of Purdue in 1984 and 1985; Mary Eggers of Illinois in 1986, 1987, 1988; Bonnie Bremner of Penn State in 1997 and 1998; Stacey Gordon of Ohio State in 2002 and 2004; Megan Hodge of Penn State in 2006 and 2009, and the last to win two POY awards, Stephanie Samedy of Minnesota in 2020 and 2021.

Also for a second season in a row, senior Anna Smrek was named First Team All-Big Ten. Smrek averaged just under three kills per set at 2.99 and totaled 209 kills in conference play, while hitting .317 (209 – 62 – 464). The six-foot-nine opposite also totaled 94 blocks for an average of 1.34 blocks per set (4^th in the B1G). This season, Smrek totaled 13 double-figure kill totals while 11 of them were hit against Big Ten opponents. This is Smrek's second season as First Team All-Big Ten.

Both Carter Booth and Julia Orzol are no strangers to the All-Big Ten honoree list. Transitioning back to outside hitter after as season at libero, Orzol averaged 2.21 kills per set for 155 kills in conference play. She also collected 2.27 digs per set and averaged .56 blocks per set. In Big Ten play, the Polish native tallied seven double-figure kill totals, including two double-double matches in kills and digs against Oregon and UCLA. The Second Team honor is Orzol's third All-Big Ten honor of her career.

In all three seasons of her collegiate career, middle blocker Carter Booth has earned All-Big Ten honors. This season, as a second teamer, Booth averaged 1.64 kills per set with a total of 100. The Badgers led the conference in total team blocks (236.0), with Booth playing a large part of that total. Booth ranked fourth among individuals in total blocks (94.0), including 13 block solos, and finished second with an average of 1.54 blocks per set. Against Michigan on Oct. 20, Booth put up a career-best 12.0 blocks. Because of her defensive performance that week, Booth was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

In their freshman campaign both Charlie Fuerbringer and Lola Schumacher earned Big Ten honors. Fuerbrginer was named Second Team and to the All-Freshman Team, while Schumacher was also named to the All-Freshman Team. The five-foot-eleven setter earned three Big Ten weekly honors, including Setter of the Week and two Freshman Players of the Week. Fuerbringer ran the Badger offense and averaged 10.91 assists per set for fourth in the Big Ten. She also chipped in with .59 kills per set, .67 blocks per set, and 2.37 digs per set. She totaled four double-double matches (assists and digs), including a career-high 25 digs against Minnesota.

Freshman libero/defensive specialist Lola Schumacher led the team with 3.53 digs per set in Big Ten play. She notched 13 service aces as well. Despite missing three matches due to injury, Schumacher recorded double-figure dig totals in 12 matches, including a personal best (in conference play) 19 digs against Oregon. This marks the first accolade of Schumacher young career.

2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
  
 Player of the Year: Sarah Franklin, Gr., OH, Wisconsin 
 Setter of the Year: Bergen Reilly, So., Nebraska 
 Libero of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Sr., Nebraska 
 Freshman of the Year: Izzy Starck, S, Penn State 
 Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): Katie Schumacher-Cawley, Penn State  
  
 ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM*
 RAINA TERRY, Sr., OH, Illinois 
 Allison Jacobs, Gr., OH, Michigan 
 Nalani Iosia, Sr., L, Michigan State 
 Lydia Grote, Gr., OPP, Minnesota 
 JULIA HANSON, Jr., OH, Minnesota 
 Melani Shaffmaster, Gr., S, Minnesota 
 Merritt Beason, Sr., OPP, Nebraska 
 ANDI JACKSON, So., MB, Nebraska 
 Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska 
 Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska 
 LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska 
 Emily Londot, Gr., OPP, Ohio State 
 MIMI COLYER, Jr., OH, Oregon 
 Onye Ofoegbu, Gr., MB, Oregon 
 Camryn Hannah, Gr., OH, Penn State 
 JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State 
 Izzy Starck, Fr., S, Penn State 
 Taylor Trammell, Sr., MB, Penn State 
 Raven Colvin, Sr., MB, Purdue 
 Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue 
 Cheridyn Leverette, Jr., OH, UCLA 
 Ally Batenhorst, Gr., OH, USC 
 Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC 
 SARAH FRANKLIN, Gr., OH, Wisconsin 
 Anna Smrek, Sr., OPP, Wisconsin 
  
 ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM*
 Ramsey Gary, So., L, Indiana 
 Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana 
 Samantha Schnitta, Gr., OPP, Maryland 
 Valentina Vaulet, So., OPP, Michigan 
 Phoebe Awoleye, Gr., MB, Minnesota 
 Michelle Ohwobete, Gr., OH, Oregon 
 Gillian Grimes, Jr., L, Penn State 
 Taylor Anderson, So., S, Purdue 
 Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue 
 Anna Dodson, Sr., MB, UCLA 
 Leah Ford, Fr., MB, USC 
 Kierstyn Barton, So., OH, Washington 
 Emoni Bush, Jr., OH, Washington 
 Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin 
 Charlie Fuerbringer, Fr., S, Wisconsin 
 Julia Orzol, Sr., OH, Wisconsin 
 


ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
 Ashlyn Philpot, MB, Illinois 
 Emmi Sellman, OH, Ohio State 
 Cristin Cline, S, Oregon 
 Caroline Jurevicius, OH, Penn State 
 IZZY STARCK, S, Penn State 
 Leah Ford, MB, USC 
 Julia Hunt, MB, Washington 
 CHARLIE FUERBRINGER, S, Wisconsin 
 Lola Schumacher, L, Wisconsin 
  
  
 SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
 Christy Martinez Mundo, Gr., L, Illinois 
 Ava Vickers, So., MB Indiana 
 Joy Galles, Gr., L, Iowa 
 Ellie Watson, Sr., MB, Maryland 
 Allison Jacobs, Gr., OH, Michigan 
 Taylor Preston, Jr., OH, Michigan State  
 Elise McGhie, Sr., S, Minnesota 
 Leyla Blackwell, Sr., MB, Nebraska 
 Sophia Summers, Gr., MB, Northwestern 
 Sydney Taylor, Sr., DS, Ohio State 
 Daley McClellan, Sr., DS, Oregon 
 Ava Falduto, Fr., DS, Penn State  
 Sydney Yim, Sr., S, Purdue 
 Lexi Visintine, Jr., OH, Rutgers  
 Gala Trubint, Jr., L, USC 
 Sophia Tulino, Sr., OH, Washington 
 Julia Orzol, Sr., OH, Wisconsin 

* - Additional player(s) due to tie in voting 
ALL CAPS denotes unanimous selection