MADISON, Wis. — The Big Ten Conference announced its preseason All-Conference accolades Monday, with Wisconsin leading the way. The reigning national champion Badgers were selected as the favorite in the 2022 Big Ten Volleyball Preseason Poll and featured three athletes on the Preseason All-Conference Team: junior Devyn Robinson and sophomores Sarah Franklin and Anna Smrek.
Wisconsin tops the conference preseason ledger, followed by Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Penn State rounding out the top five.
Wisconsin has won each of the last three Big Ten championships, most recently claiming the 2021 Big Ten title with a record of 17-3. In nine seasons with the Badgers, head coach Kelly Sheffield has led UW to a total of four Big Ten championships. Wisconsin has built a 138-35 (.798) conference record during Sheffield’s tenure.
On the individual side, Wisconsin is one of three schools with three student-athletes on the Preseason All-Conference Team, joining Nebraska and Ohio State. Robinson was a 2020 First-Team All-Big Ten honoree and earned a second-team nod in 2021. Smrek capped last season winning MVP of the 2021 NCAA Championship, while Franklin was a 2021 First-Team All-Big Ten selection last season while playing at Michigan State.
The Badgers open the season on Aug. 20 with their annual Red vs. White Scrimmage. The regular season opener is Aug. 26 at TCU.
2022 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Ohio State
5. Penn State
6. (tie) Illinois
(tie) Michigan
8. Purdue
9. Northwestern
10. Maryland
11. Michigan State
12. Iowa
13. Indiana
14. Rutgers
2022 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Raina Terry, Jr., OH, Illinois
Rainelle Jones, Grad., MB, Maryland
Jess Mruzik, Jr., OH, Michigan
CC McGraw, Grad., L/DS, Minnesota
Jenna Wenaas, Jr., OH, Minnesota
Kaitlyn Hord, Sr., MB, Nebraska
MADI KUBIK, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Lexi Rodriguez, So., L/DS, Nebraska
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Sr., OH, Northwestern
Emily Londot, Jr., OPP, Ohio State
Mac Podraza, Sr., S, Ohio State
Rylee Rader, Jr., MB, Ohio State
Sarah Franklin, RS-So., OH, Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson, Jr., MB/RS, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, So., MB/RS, Wisconsin
Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS
Additional student-athlete due to tie in voting
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