Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke go up for a block against a Marquette player.
Greg Anderson

Volleyball

Rettke, Hilley honored by Big Ten

Badgers named freshman of the week, setter of the week

Volleyball

Rettke, Hilley honored by Big Ten

Badgers named freshman of the week, setter of the week

MADISON, Wis. – For a record ninth time this season, Wisconsin's Dana Rettke has been named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week in volleyball while freshman Sydney Hilley was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday.

Rettke picked up her first career double-double at Northwestern on Sunday, putting away a match-high 13 kills while adding a career-high 10 blocks. The 6-8 middle blocker also had a match-high 14 kills at Illinois on Friday to averaged 3.86 kills per set while hitting .561. Rettke added 1.86 blocks per set on the weekend.

On the season, Rettke leads the Badgers and ranks second in the Big Ten with a .445 hitting percentage. She also leads the team and ranks 12th in the conference with 3.42 kills per set. The freshman has a team-best 1.43 blocks per set, which ranks third in the Big Ten.

Hilley, who earns her second setter of the week award of the season, put up a career-high 57 assists in only four sets at Illinois on Friday. The 6-1 setter also put up 32 assists at Northwestern, averaging 12.71 assists per set on the weekend. Hilley set the Badgers to a 2-0 road record and a .312 team hitting percentage. She recorded her team-best ninth double-double with 57 assists and 10 digs vs. the Illini. On the weekend, Hilley added 2.14 digs, 0.86 kills and 0.71 blocks per set.   

On the year, Hilley ranks second in the Big Ten with 11.66 assists per set. She also adds 2.15 digs, 0.67 blocks and 0.18 service aces per set.  

No. 11 Wisconsin (19-8, 10-8 B1G) wraps up the regular season with two home matches in the UW Field House. The Badgers host No. 1 Penn State (27-1, 17-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Rutgers (5-25, 0-18) comes to town for a 7 p.m. match. Saturday is Senior Night as UW honors seniors Kelli Bates and Lauryn Gillis in post-match ceremonies.

The 64-team bracket for the 2017 NCAA Championship will be announced on Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPNU. The Badgers are 37-18 in 18 years of tournament play. Wisconsin has made four-straight appearances in the post-season classic, advancing to at least the Sweet 16 round. UW is 12-4 under head coach Kelly Sheffield in NCAA tournament play.   
 
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Players Mentioned

Kelli Bates

#4 Kelli Bates

OH/L
5' 11"
Senior
Bradley, Ill.
Lauryn Gillis

#3 Lauryn Gillis

OH
6' 1"
Senior
New Castle, Ind.
Sydney Hilley

#2 Sydney Hilley

S
6' 0"
Freshman
Dana Rettke

#16 Dana Rettke

MB
6' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kelli Bates

#4 Kelli Bates

5' 11"
Senior
Bradley, Ill.
OH/L
Lauryn Gillis

#3 Lauryn Gillis

6' 1"
Senior
New Castle, Ind.
OH
Sydney Hilley

#2 Sydney Hilley

6' 0"
Freshman
S
Dana Rettke

#16 Dana Rettke

6' 8"
Freshman
MB