Wisconsin volleyball's Anna Smrek is ready to build on the fantastic finish to her freshman season (2024)

mark stewart, milwaukee journal sentinel

·4 min read

MADISON – Sometimes the woman who had plenty of answers for the Wisconsin volleyball team in the national final gets caught in a moment of indecision.

Sophomore Anna Smrek will be out and about on campus or around town and someone will recognize her ask to takea picture and sing her praises. Who doesn’t want a moment with a national champion, especially one who showed as much promise as Smrek did last December?

The 6-foot-9 middle blocker/right-side hitter understands the reason for the fuss. She just isn’t comfortable with it and sometimes struggleswith how to respond.

“I’m like, 'thank you,” she said, “but there are six people on the court and so many more on the bench that contributed to every single thing that happened there.'”

The Badgers' national championship last season was indeed a team effort, but Smrek’s role in the final match was epic: 14 kills, a .428 hitting percentage and seven blocks. She was named player of the match.

It was a huge moment for a player the team named itsmost improved player last season.Friday we’ll begin to see where Smrek takes her game next.

UW opens the 2022 campaign against TCU at 7 p.m. Friday in Fort Worth, Texas,Then at 4 p.m.Saturday, the Badgers, who are ranked third in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, face No. 16 Baylor in Fort Worth.

Wisconsin volleyball's Anna Smrek is ready to build on the fantastic finish to her freshman season (1)

The team will take the floor with three preseason all-Big Ten picks– Smrek, junior Devyn Robinson and sophomore Sarah Franklin – plus last year’s Big Ten freshman of the year (Julia Orzol) andsix newcomers, four of whom are transfers.The group is worthy of its lofty standing as the Big Ten’s preseason favorite.

A key to the team reaching that expectationand morewill be Smrek’s continued development. She’s only a sophomore.

“When you look at her even beyond the height, the potential oozes out of her,” Badgers coach Kelly Sheffield said. “She knows how to generate power and she moves really well. She takes up a lot of space.”

More: Sarah Franklin's impact, Devyn Robinson's growth and four more storylines to watch with Wisconsin volleyball this season

Smrek finished last season with a .366 hitting percentage, fifth-best in the Big Ten, with 1.84 kills and 0.77 blocks per set. Most of her career highs – kills (20), attack percentage (.704), blocks (seven) and points (21.5) – came during the national semifinal or final.

Her improvement was tied for growingmore comfortable on the floor rather than any major adjustments to her play. Looking back, Sheffield said he thinks Smrek’s 12-kill, four-block effort in a 3-0 win at Nebraska in late October signaled the start of her late-season surge.

“It wasn’t a light switch, it was she needs to play,” Sheffield said.“The more she was doing that the slower the game was becoming for her.”

After an offseason ofworkouts and matches during the spring, the game has continued to slowdown even more for the native of Welland, Ontario.

The mindset she brought into camp this year was much different froma year ago.

"Now I have that (confidence) for myself and my teammates and I can show that to people who have just come in or are new to the team,” Smrek said. “I just feel like I have those connections with people now where I can let it go and just play volleyball and not overthink things.”

Smrek already possessed the competitive drive and confidence to be a high-level player when she arrived at UW. What Sheffield has seen her be this season is more physical and better at finding the flow of her teammate in broken-play situations.

And her size continues to be impossible to ignore, especially when she takes a swing.

Wisconsin volleyball's Anna Smrek is ready to build on the fantastic finish to her freshman season (2)

“She’s over 11 feet,” Sheffield said, referring to Smrek’s vertical jump. “There aren’t a lot of female athletes touching over 11. Not only is she tall, she can jump.”

We’ll see more of that this season. She ranked sixth on the team in kills (138) and attacks (265). It's safe to say she'll be more involved in the offense this year.

In preparation Smrek has been working to refine her swing and become more fundamentally sound with her block.

The fruits of that labor will begin to show Friday.She is ready to start a new season, a new chapter.

“A lot of us are aware of what happened last season, but we do understand that everyone is even (now). No one has won or loss anything,” Smrek said. “We’re just ready to go.”

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin volleyball's Anna Smrek set to build on freshman season

Wisconsin volleyball's Anna Smrek is ready to build on the fantastic finish to her freshman season (2024)

FAQs

How tall is Wisconsin volleyball player Anna Smrek? ›

At 6-foot-9, Anna Smrek is one of the most commanding volleyball players in Big Ten and Wisconsin Badger history.

Why didn't Anna Smrek travel? ›

Anna Smrek's availibility uncertain due to injury

396 hitting percentage, didn't make the trip due an to an "upper-body" injury. Julia Orzol, Temi Thomas-Ailara and Gulce Guctekin took on different roles in her absence.

How high can Anna Smrek reach? ›

Hammill said she's learned to adjust her sets to Smrek to factor in her unusually high reach, as she touches around 11-feet-2, around a foot higher than most hitters.

Where was Anna Smrek born? ›

Born April 4, 1918 in Wyandotte, MI to Bronislaus and Stephanie Loszewski, Anna passed away on Friday, August 17, 2012 at the age of 94.

Who is the tallest girl on the Wisconsin volleyball team? ›

The two middle blockers' height poses a threat at the net, with Anna Smrek at 6-foot-9 and Carter Booth at 6-foot-7. Smrek, who is the tallest Badger to play volleyball, is a junior from Canada. She ranks second on the team with 2.69 kills per set.

Who is Anna Smrek's dad? ›

Mike Smrek
Personal information
Number52, 55, 11
Career history
1985–1986Chicago Bulls
1986–1988Los Angeles Lakers
25 more rows

Did the Wisconsin volleyball girls get in trouble? ›

The girls are not under investigation. "UWPD is investigating multiple crimes, including sharing sensitive photos without consent," the statement read. "UWPD is not investigating the volleyball student-athletes for wrongdoing in this matter."

Why did Smrek not play against Penn State? ›

That was certainly obvious when the Badgers went to Penn State on November 11 without Smrek, who was in concussion protocol. Wisconsin lost in four.

Who was the Wisconsin volleyball player injured? ›

University of Wisconsin volleyball star Sarah Franklin was a game-changer while playing for USA Volleyball. But unfortunately for her and her American teammates, she went up for a block with middle blocker Sophie Fischer, got a hand on the ball, but fell awkwardly and immediately grabbed her left ankle. The U.S.

Who has the tallest jump in volleyball? ›

Witness the incredible 50.5-inch vertical jump in volleyball. Explore the heights of volleyball net and player jumps.

Who is the tallest woman in college volleyball? ›

Anna Smrek – The Super Tall Female Volleyball Player (6 Foot 9!)
  • Birthdate: 2003-10-11.
  • Position: Middle-blocker.
  • Height: 207cm.
  • Weight: 77kg.
  • Spike: 337cm.
  • Block: 327cm.
  • Current club: Wisconsin Univ. ( USA)
Dec 12, 2022

How tall are most college volleyball players? ›

Division 2
  • Average volleyball player height: 5'10”
  • Average height range: 19.8% of athletes are 6'0” and taller; 61% of athletes are between 5'9” and 5'11”
  • Club experience: National-level experience; open level preferred.

Where did Anna Smrek go to high school? ›

Anna Smrek is from Canada

The Welland, Ontario native played at Notre Dame College School and played for the Canadian Youth National team from 2018-20, which took her to tournaments in Honduras, Egypt and the United States. Before that, she was a competitive dancer through middle school.

Is Anna Smrek related to Mike Smrek? ›

A STAR in the making in Wisconsin, Anna Smrek has followed in her famous father's footsteps. The Badgers' junior volleyball prodigy is the daughter of former Los Angeles Lakers center Mike. Originally from Ontario, Canada, Mike was drafted 85th overall out of Canisius by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1985.

When did Wisconsin win NCAA volleyball? ›

The university has a rich volleyball tradition, with origins dating back to 1974. They won a national title in 2021.

How tall is the libero for Wisconsin? ›

Libero/defensive specialist
No.NameHeight
21Gulce Guctekin5-5
22Julia Orzol6-0
0Sydney Reed5-6
1Joslyn Boyer5-6
1 more row
Sep 3, 2023

How tall is the shortest Olympic volleyball player? ›

Take the most recent Olympic team, for example. The shortest player was Eric Shoji, at 6'0”. If you're wondering who the tallest player was, there were actually three who all measure at the 6'10” mark.

Why is Anna Smrek not playing for Wisconsin volleyball? ›

The Badgers have admittedly faced some adversity coming out of the preseason, with Anna Smrek shaking off an ankle injury and freshman Trinity Shadd-Ceres pressed into a starting role after Julia Orzol also suffered an ankle injury.

Does Wisconsin volleyball run a 6-2? ›

Wisconsin, running their 6 2, has made it to the final four, which the last time that. a team has won the national championship. in Division 1 volleyball by running the 6 2. was in to either 2002 or 2003 USC.

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