January is here now. The race for the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship 2024 is already over, and it is time to allow space for professional volleyball leagues. The inaugural edition of League One Volleyball (LOVB) is on the cards, and the clubs are in their last moment of preparation. Rosters are also ready. Fortunately, several stars who concluded their collegiate careers last season will show up again on the court. Enter Sarah Franklin. The former Wisconsin Badgers star will represent LOVB Madison in the first assignment of her professional career. One of her former teammates from Badgers is also looking forward to walking on the same avenue. But she might not play in the USA anymore. 

Yes. A contrasting picture is developing in the corner. In the next few weeks, Sarah, the Badgers’ former outside hitter, will show up in Madison, representing her known region. In the last three seasons, the Lake Worth native made Wisconsin her home and entertained Badgers’ fans through her moves. But Anna Smrek, the 6’9” right-side hitter from her former camp, might end up joining an international league. 

The news may give a shockwave for several reasons. First, the tallest female volleyball player in NCAA history had no such probability in the past. Instead, in November, the Pro Volleyball Federation squad, Orlando Valkyries, chose her in the fourth round of drafting. Her successful stint with the Wisconsin Badgers led to a prime opportunity to launch a career in the American professional volleyball league. The last few days, however, have shown a different story. 

On December 31, the X-handle of a volleyball fan shared an update. It says, “According to information from the Italian website http://Volleyball.It, Milano has signed Canadian giant Anna Smrek.” Notably, the Italian professional volleyball league, SuperLega, has multiple clubs teaming up with foreign players. Anna might join one of those clubs. However, before the fan handle’s update, Volleyball.it’s X-handle posted something on it. 

On December 30, the Italian volleyball news portal broke the news on X. Later, another X-handle, Avid Volley, reshared the post and explained it in the comment box. Per Avid Volley, Anna Smrek might join Numia Vero Volley Milano, filling Radostina Marinova’s place. Allegedly, Radostina is leaving and might continue her professional career in Jakarta, Livin Mandiri. So there’s a high chance to see Smrek playing in the Bulgarian’s playing position, i.e., as an outside hitter, in the coming days. But things have yet to get ultimate confirmation from Numia Vero Volley Milano and Anna Smrek. However, she had a stellar season for the Wisconsin Badgers. last year. Those fireworks might give the fans high hopes of seeing her achieve heights in her next volleyball camp. 

Wisconsin Badgers’ tallest alum knows how to score 

There’s a stunning similarity between Anna Smrek’s father and Michael Jordan. Both Mike Smrek and MJ played for the Chicago Bulls during the 80s. Later, the patriarch of the Smrek family moved to the Los Angeles Lakers to share the basketball court with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. That much phenomenal Mike’s career was. Does it have any impact on his daughter’s career? The numbers may present something. 

Last season, Anna Smrek represented the Wisconsin Badgers in 32 out of 33 games. In 22 out of those games, she started the game for her squad. She continued the form as, in the end, Anna tallied double digits in 17 games while averaging 2.85 kills per set. She also had a high number of blocks (144). However, the Wisconsin Badgers ended their journey in the NCAA Regional Final last season, and Anna had to draw an end to her collegiate career. But her fans might be hopeful after checking all this news regarding her comeback to volleyball sports.