Wisconsin volleyball: Dana Rettke named finalist for Honda Award

Wisconsin Badgers senior middle blocker Dana Rettke has been named a finalist for the prestigious Honda Award for Volleyball for the second straight season. The other three finalists for the award are Logan Eggleston from the University of Texas, Madison Lilley of the University of Kentucky and Stephanie Samedy from the University of Minnesota

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 45 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. The winner of the individual sport award, which will be decided this week after tabulating votes from each NCAA member school, becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2021 Honda Cup which will be presented on a telecast on CBS Sports Network, on June 28 at 9 p.m. ET.

Per a UW press release:

Rettke is a four-time American Volleyball Coaches Association first-team All-American, the first Badger ever to earn four first-team awards and just the sixth player ever. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker from Riverside, Illinois, is also a four-time Big Ten Conference first-team honoree and was the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year as well as the 2019-20 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year. She was a 10-time Big Ten Player of the Week, setting the UW record for most career POW honors.

A two-time AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year, Rettke was a four-time All-Northeast Region selection. She was also a four-time first-team All-American by VolleyballMag.com. As a senior, she ranked 10^th nationally in blocks per set (1.50) and 18^th in hitting percentage (.414). In the classroom, Rettke was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick.

We are still waiting to hear if Rettke will be returning to Madison for a last season or moving on to turn pro.