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Former Badger Sarah Franklin shined as USA struggled in first week of Volleyball Nations League play

USA lost its first three matches, even as former Wisconsin Badgers star Sarah Franklin led the way in scoring. Reinforcements are on the way with another former Badger coming on board for Week 2.
Lorin Cox|
Wisconsin's Sarah Franklin (13) digs a serve during the match against Michigan State on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the UW Field House in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin's Sarah Franklin (13) digs a serve during the match against Michigan State on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the UW Field House in Madison, Wisconsin. | Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

USA Volleyball had a tough first week of Volleyball Nations League play, losing its first three matches to Italy, Brazil and Czechia.

It wasn't due to a lack of effort from former Wisconsin Badgers star Sarah Franklin.

The outside hitter was the team's most consistent scorer of the week, leading the USA team with 41 points.

That 10.25 average per match so far puts her in the Top 25 among all players in the VNL. Her next closes teammate averages just seven.

Franklin's efforts helped finally put her team over the top in their fourth match against South Korea.

USA won in three sets thanks to her 13 points, four digs and one ace.

Entering the second week of play, she'll get some reinforcements from another former Badger joining the squad.

Dana Rettke made it onto the USA roster for Week 2, adding some more size into the middle to try and elavate the team.

She helped lead Wisconsin to a national championship in 2021, though she didn't cross over with Franklin at the same time in Madison.

Now, they'll share the court as they play for their country overseas.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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