MADISON — The Wisconsin volleyball team received a double dose of good news on Friday.
Devin Robinson and Carolyn Crawford have announced their intentions to return to the Badgers next season. Two seniors have another year of eligibility due to a coronavirus exemption provided by the NCAA to athletes who competed in the pandemic-plagued 2020-21 academic year,
The news came just days after redshirt sophomore Ella Froebel entered the transfer portal.
Crawford, a 6-foot-3 midfielder, announced her return on Instagram. Her post read in part:
“Being able to wear Wisconsin on my chest has been a dream come true. I am so fortunate to have an extra year of eligibility to play the sport I love. I could not be more excited and determined for next season. There is still unfinished business.”
Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1KcnQkLjpc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTYzOWQzNmJjMA==
Crawford’s average of 1.35 blocks per set ranked second on the team and her .329 hitting percentage ranked third. She also averaged 0.82 kills per set and was a threat behind the service line all season long.
Robinson, a 6-2 right-handed hitter, announced her return later in the day.
“Tell a friend to tell a friend….it’s baaak. I’m not done with you yet,” she wrote, then tagged the Wisconsin volleyball X and Instagram pages.
Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1LEsGhupMj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTYzOWQzNmJjMA==
Robinson earned honorable mention on the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s All-American team, marking the third time she has earned All-American status from that group. She ranked third on the team in kills (2.43 per set) while hitting .310. She ranked fourth on the team in blocks (0.92 per set).
Wisconsin finished 30-4 and finished second in the Big Ten before reaching the Final Four for the fourth time in five seasons. The team ranked third in the final AVCA poll.
National Player of the Year Sarah Franklin, another player with an extra year of eligibility, was already looking forward to another year with the team after the Badgers’ loss to Texas in the national semifinals.
“We’re a team that doesn’t back down and doesn’t give up, and that’s definitely the fuel come spring, come summer, come preseason next year,” Franklin said when asked how a loss to Tezas would fuel the team. The team worked during the vacation period. “It’s a great opportunity to be back with this group of girls. I think we should pay attention next year.”
more:What’s ahead for the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team in 2024? Here’s an early look.
