During the University of Wisconsin volleyball team’s last Final Four appearance, Anna Smrek proved to be a key figure, both in presence and performance.
As a freshman, the 6-9 middle blocker/right side hitter was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2021 tournament after leading the Badgers to an intense victory over Louisville and Nebraska in thrilling five-set matches, clinching the NCAA championship in the process.
Smrek made her mark with a career-best 20 kills against Louisville, including the pivotal point that secured the semifinal win, and capped off the championship with a season-high seven blocks against Nebraska.
Anna Smrek and the Badgers might find themselves facing Nebraska again, with the NCAA title at stake this Saturday. But before that, they’ll need to challenge Texas, the defending national champions, this Thursday.
Here’s what you need to know about Smrek:
She’s the tallest player in Wisconsin’s history
At an impressive 6-9, Smrek stands as the tallest player ever to play for the University of Wisconsin, just slightly taller than her former teammate and five-time All-American, Dana Rettke.
Anna Smrek comes from Canada
Originally from Welland, Ontario, Smrek attended Notre Dame College School and played for Canada’s Youth National Team from 2018 to 2020. Her travels with the team took her to international tournaments in places like Honduras, Egypt, and the U.S.
Before diving into volleyball, Smrek was a competitive dancer throughout her middle school years. In an interview with CBC, she shared how her grandfather, a former national-level water polo coach in Croatia, introduced her to the sport of volleyball.
She mentioned that basketball never really caught her attention, which is intriguing because…
Anna Smrek’s father was an NBA player who shared the court with legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan.
It’s unfortunate that HBO’s Winning Time was canceled after two seasons, missing out on covering Mike Smrek’s era. Smrek, mentioned in Jeff Pearlman’s Showtime, played his rookie season with Michael Jordan on the Bulls in 1985-86. He briefly featured in a playoff win over Boston, during Jordan’s legendary 63-point game.
Smrek then joined the Lakers, winning back-to-back NBA titles in 1987 and 1988, alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Over those seasons, he averaged 7.9 minutes, 2.5 points, and 1.5 rebounds per game. Smrek played until 1992, appearing in 194 NBA games with several teams.
How to Properly Pronounce Anna Smrek’s Last Name
It’s just as it seems. Smrek. You’ve got this.
Anna Smrek has achieved numerous milestones at Wisconsin
This season, Smrek earned first-team All-Conference honors in the Big Ten and was also recognized with All-Region accolades. Her standout performance came against Nebraska, where she recorded 18 kills in just three sets, leading UW to a sweep of the Huskers and handing them their only loss of the season at the UW Field House to wrap up the regular season.
Heading into the Final Four, she has participated in 30 matches, matching her performance from her sophomore year.
As a freshman, she played in 25 matches and made an immediate impact, finishing with a .366 hitting percentage, which ranked second on the team.
In 2021, she was recognized as the team’s Most Improved Player.
Anna Smrek’s Brother Also Played College Sports in Wisconsin
Luke Smrek competed in tennis for four years at Marquette University in Milwaukee, receiving the Big East Freshman of the Year award in 2017 and securing first-team All-Big East recognition twice.
Height : Luke, by the way, stood 6-4.
