Multiple players earned the distinguished honors this week after another successful stretch.
After a pair of impressive wins this past weekend including a 3-0 victory against No. 3 Penn State, two Wisconsin Badgers were rewarded by the conference for their individual play.
Senior Sarah Franklin was named the co-Big Ten Player of the Week. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter averaged 4.67 kills per set and had zero errors in the matches against Iowa and Penn State.
Franklin hit .431 over the weekend and also pitched in with 2.50 digs per set and 0.33 blocks per set on the defensive side.
It’s Franklin’s second time being named Big Ten Player of the Week this year — her seventh career acknowledgment. So far, last year’s AVCA National Player of the Year has been better statistically this season. Not too bad for Frank the Tank.
The other Badger honored was freshman setter Charlie Fuerbringer, who was named Big Ten Setter of the Week. The standout from Hermosa Beach, Cali. had double-doubles in both matches.
In the 3-0 sweep over Iowa on Friday, Fuerbringer had four kills, 32 assists, and 12 digs. Against Penn State, she had 38 assists and 12 digs. Her stellar setting helped the Badgers hit .465 against the Nittany Lions, and against the Hawkeyes, UW hit .394.
The Badgers will hope those two can keep up their impressive performances this week, as UW goes out West to take on the No. 23 USC Trojans (8-5, 16-7) on Thursday night at 10 p.m. Central. On Saturday, UW clashes with the UCLA Bruins (5-8, 11-11) at 9 p.m. Both those matches will be on the Big Ten Network.