Wisconsin volleyball’s Dana Rettke named Big Ten Freshman of the Year

At the start of 2017 fall sports, we thought it might be the Year of the Freshman at Wisconsin. We were right.

Middle blocker Dana Rettke was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in volleyball on Monday after leading Wisconsin with 3.37 kills per set and 1.42 blocks per set.

A Big Ten-record nine-time Freshman of the Week, the 6’8 Rettke hit .445 on the season, tops among Big Ten freshmen. She is the fifth Badger to win the award and the second Wisconsin player in a row to be so honored, with teammate Molly Haggerty winning last season.

Rettke was also a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team, alongside fellow middle blocker Tionna Williams. The junior made her second consecutive appearance on the first team, hitting .396, along with 2.46 kills per set and 1.04 blocks per set.

Setter Sydney Hilley was also named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team after averaging 11.64 assist per set. Hilley and Rettke are the fourth pair of freshman to be selected to the All-Freshman team in Wisconsin history.

Wisconsin faces Marquette in Ames, Iowa, Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.