A look at the Wisconsin Badger’s Sarah Franklin against the field for national POY

On December 20, 2024By Littum

MADISON – Regardless of what happens Friday, it’s safe to say Sarah Franklin has secured her spot on the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball Mount Rushmore of players.

The 6-foot-4 outside hitter is a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and one of just two players in program history to be the National Player of the Year.

And she has a one in four chance of making it two years in a row as the country’s best player.

Franklin is a finalist for American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year award. The honor will be announced Friday in Louisville.

Here’s a look at Franklin and the field.

Sarah Franklin, outsider, Wisconsin

Statistics: 4.46 murders per sets, .289 hitting percentage, .33 assists per set, 30 aces in total, 2.28 digs per set, 0.49 blocks per set, 595.5 total points.

Why she wins it: In leading the Badgers to the regional final of the NCAA Tournament, she improved her production in many categories from last season as she averaged 4.15 kills, 1.93 digs and 0.26 serve-receive errors per set. She also increased her scoring, which was 540 points last season. Her batting percentage dipped slightly this season, .289 in 2024 vs. .300 last season, but she was the only first-team all-Big Ten outside hitter to hit over .300 (.306) in league games. She was an anchor for the team’s passing, a facet of the game that isn’t tracked well statistically.

Brooklyn DeLeye, outfielder, Kentucky

Statistics: 4.87 murders per sets, .294 hitting percentage, .18 assists per set, 56 total aces, 1.64 digs per set, .33 blocks per set, 609.5 total points.

Why she wins it: The Southeast Conference Player of the Year finished the season strong, something reflected not only in her Player of the Year honor, but the fact that she made the top four after not making the cut when the 14 semifinalists were announced. She hit .322 over the past month and a half with an average of 18 kills per at-bat. match and ranks ninth in the nation in kills per set.

Olivia Babcock, opposite hitter, Pittsburgh

Statistics: 4.59 kills per set, .319 hitting percentage, .15 assists per set, 71 total aces, 1.85 digs per set, 1.15 blocks per set, 643.5 total points.

Why she wins it: This has been Pitt’s year, and Babcock has been a driving force behind that success. The Panthers earned their first No. 1 ranking in program history this season and their first No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament. Babcock leads the ACC and ranks in the top 25 nationally in points per set (5.85), kills per set and aces per set. She is one of the few players capable of scoring a triple-double off kills, digs and blocks or kills, digs and aces.

Lexi Rodriguez, libero, Nebraska

Statistics: 1.04 assists per set, 17 aces in total, 3.91 digs per set.

Why she wins it: Badgers fans know firsthand how good it is Cornhuskers‘ defense is, and Rodriguez kicks off the game. Nebraska ranks fourth in the nation in opponent hitting percentage (.139) and is holding opponents to .066 in the tournament. Rodriguez already made history by becoming the first libero to be named the AVCA Region Player of the Year, and she would make history as the first libero national player of the year.