Dana Rettke named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year

MADISON, Wis. – For the second time in her career, Dana Rettke from the Wisconsin volleyball team has been named the Big Ten Conference Female Athlete of the Year. The conference office announced the 2021-22 honors on Wednesday.

Also receiving the award in 2019-20, Rettke is just the third two-time recipient of the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year Award, along with Indiana swimmer Lilly King (2017, 2018) and Wisconsin cross country/track and field runner Suzy Favor (1988, 1989, 1990). She is also the first male or female ever chosen Big Ten Athlete of the Year in non-consecutive seasons.

A 6-foot-8 middle blocker, Rettke wrapped up her career by leading the Badgers to their first NCAA national championship in program history and third-straight Big Ten championship in 2021. She was named the 2021 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year, the first UW player to receive the award. Rettke also became the first five-time, first-team All-American in AVCA history and wrapped up her career as a five-time, first-team All-Big Ten selection, racking up a school-record 11 Big Ten Player of the Week awards.

As a senior, the Riverside, Illinois, native ranked sixth nationally with a .430 hitting percentage. She led the Badgers with 3.41 kills per set and 1.43 blocks per set, which ranked fifth nationally. For her career, Rettke set UW records for hitting percentage (.422), blocks (751) and points (2,333.0).

“This is a very prestigious honor when you think of how many elite athletes there are in the Big Ten,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “Dana had a season and career that will be remembered for a long time.” 

This is the fifth time a volleyball student-athlete has earned the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year award — along with Rettke’s dual honors, other volleyball recipients were Penn State’s Megan Hodge (2010), Penn State’s Lauren Cacciamani (2000), and Ohio State’s Laura Davis (1995).

Rettke’s award marks the eighth time a Badger has earned Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year honors — aside from Rettke’s two awards, other Wisconsin honorees have all been cross country/track and field runners: Kathy Butler (co-winner in 1997), Suzy Favor (1988, 1989, 1990), Stephanie Herbst (1986), and Cathy Branta (1985).