MADISON – When the U.S. women's volleyball team competes in the Olympics this summer, the University of Wisconsin will be well represented.
Dana Rettke, the 2021 National Collegiate Player of the Year, and four-time All-American Lauren Carlini were named to the 12-player roster on Wednesday and are two of four players on the team making their first Olympic appearance.
The United States is the defending champion and the tournament will be held in Paris from July 28 to August 11.
“Being selected for the Olympic team and being one of 12 athletes to represent your sport and country is something anyone would dream of,” Badgers head coach Kelly Sheffield said in a press release. “Lauren and Dana, along with everyone else in the gym, worked hard in practice. They were willing to do whatever it took to evolve their game and help the team. I couldn't be more excited for them and the incredible opportunity that lies ahead of them.”
This will be the first Olympic Games for Recce and Carlini, but both have extensive experience with the national team.
Rettke, a 6-foot-8 middle blocker, made her senior team debut in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League. She recorded 10 kills and three blocks in a five-set loss to Turkey in a Volleyball Nations League qualifier in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday. That performance came after she recorded seven kills and one block in Saturday's four-set loss to Poland.
Carlini has been a member of the national team since 2016. The 6-foot-2 setter played in the first half of this year's Volleyball Nations League.
Their selection to the national team continues a run of success that began at Wisconsin.
Carlini helped Wisconsin reach the national finals as a freshman in 2013 and win the Big Ten Conference title in 2014. She was a four-time National Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, three times making the first team. After graduating from Wisconsin, she played professionally in Italy, Russia and Turkey.
Recke was a five-time First Team All-American and helped the Badgers win three Big Ten titles, reach three Final Fours and win the national title in 2021. She was also the national player of the year in 2021. She has played professionally in Italy since her collegiate years.
As the Olympic games begin, fans of the UW team will notice a strong presence on the team from the Big Ten Conference, which has featured six U.S. players: setter Jordyn Poulter (University of Illinois), libero Justine Wong Orantes (University of Nebraska), outside hitter Jordan Larson (University of Nebraska), opposite hitter Annie Drewes (Purdue University), middle blocker Haley Washington (Penn State University) and outside hitter Kelsey Robinson-Cook (University of Nebraska).
