Anna Smrek

At 6-foot-9, Anna Smrek is one of the most commanding volleyball players in Big Ten and Wisconsin Badger history. Originally from Welland (Ontario) Notre Dame College High School, Smrek took the Big Ten by storm in her freshman season. During the regular season, Smrek was named to the 2022 Big 12/Big Ten Challenge All-Tournament Team. But then she was MVP of the 2021 NCAA Championship, including recording a career-high seven blocks against Nebraska in the NCAA championship match that the Badgers won. Overall, she ranked second on the team and fifth in the Big Ten with a .366 hitting percentage as a freshman. Before she arrived at Wisconsin, she played for the Canadian Youth National Team and won a silver medal at the 2018 NORCECA Championships in Honduras. Smrek’s parents are Michael and Sanja Smrek. Her father played basketball at Canisius College from 1981-85 and was drafted in the second round of the 1985 NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He played six years in the NBA, including winning two NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Smrek is majoring in health promotion and health equity. Her nickname is Smreky.