Sarah Franklin Earns First Team All-Big Ten Honors

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball outside hitter Sarah Franklin has been named first team All-Big Ten, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.

The first team designation comes following a stand-out sophomore season for Franklin in which she led the team in points (459), points per set (4.50), kills (404) and kills per set (3.96). Franklin finished second on the team in digs (229) and was third in blocks (59). Her 4.50 points per set ranked fifth in the Big Ten, while Franklin's 404 kills finished sixth among her conference counterparts.

During Michigan State's 20 conference matches, Franklin improved her performance averaging 4.66 points per set and 4.11 kills per set. Franklin's 25-kill performance helped spark the Spartans to a five-set victory over then No. 7-ranked Purdue on Oct. 20. Franklin posted four kills in the fifth set, including the game-winner. Against Penn State on Nov. 6, Franklin set a new career-high in kills with 27.

Franklin becomes the 31st first team All-Big Ten selection in program history and is Michigan State's first since Alyssa Garvelink and Autumn Bailey each earned the honor in 2017.

In addition to Franklin, senior middle blocker Rebecka Poljan was recognized as Michigan State's sportsmanship honoree. Poljan is a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in addition to being a two-time Academic All-Big Ten member. As a senior, Poljan finished the season with 125 kills and 45 blocks.

2021 Big Ten Volleyball Postseason Honors

Player of the Year: Stephanie Samedy, RS-Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Defensive Player of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Fr., L/DS, Nebraska
Setter of the Year: Sydney Hilley, Grad., Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Julia Orzoł, OH, Wisconsin
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): Dave Shondell, Purdue

FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN*
Megan Cooney, Grad., OH/OPP, Illinois
Rainelle Jones, Sr., MB, Maryland
Jess Mruzik, So., OH, Michigan
Sarah Franklin, So., OH, Michigan State
CC McGraw, Sr., L/DS, Minnesota
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, RS-Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Madi Kubik, Jr., OH, Nebraska
Lexi Rodriguez, Fr., L/DS, Nebraska
Lauren Stivrins, Sr., MB, Nebraska
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Jr., OH, Northwestern
Mac Podraza, Jr., S, Ohio State
RYLEE RADER, So., MB, Ohio State
Kaitlyn Hord, Sr., MB, Penn State
Jonni Parker, Sr., RS, Penn State
Hayley Bush, RS-Sr., S, Purdue
Grace Cleveland, Sr., OH, Purdue
Caitlyn Newton, RS-Sr., OH, Purdue
SYDNEY HILLEY, Grad., S, Wisconsin
DANA RETTKE, Grad., MB, Wisconsin

SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Courtney Buzzerio, Sr., RS, Iowa
Jenna Wenaas, So., OH, Minnesota
Nicklin Hames, Sr., S, Nebraska
Emily Londot, So., OPP, Ohio State
Jenna Hampton, Sr., L/DS, Penn State
Jena Otec, RS-Sr., L/DS, Purdue
Lauren Barnes, Grad., L/DS, Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson, So., MB/RS, Wisconsin

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Milan Gomillion, L/DS, Maryland
Jacque Boney, MB, Michigan
Lindsay Krause, OH, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, L/DS, Nebraska
ARICA DAVIS, MB, Ohio State
Raven Colvin, MB, Purdue
JULIA ORZOŁ, OH, Wisconsin

SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Jessica Nunge, Jr., OH/RS, Illinois
Kaley Rammelsberg, Jr., MB, Indiana
Bailey Ortega, So., S, Iowa
Maddie Naumann, Sr., DS, Maryland
Hannah Grant, RS-So., L/DS, Michigan
Rebecka Poljan, Sr., MB, Michigan State
Airi Miyabe, RS-Sr., OH, Minnesota
Kayla Caffey, Sr., MB, Nebraska
Natalie Chizzo, So., OH, Northwestern
Hannah Gruensfelder, Sr., L/DS, Ohio State
Annie Cate Fitzpatrick, So., OH, Penn State
Marissa Hornung, Sr., DS, Purdue
Shealyn McNamara, Sr., MB, Rutgers
Grace Loberg, Sr., OH, Wisconsin

ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections
* - additional member named to team due to tie in voting

Players Mentioned

Sarah Franklin

Rebecka Poljan

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