Wisconsin Setter Lauren Carlini Named Finalist for AAU Sullivan Award

Wisconsin senior Lauren Carlini, who just wrapped her final season as an All-American setter, has been named a finalist for the 2016 AAU James E. Sullivan Award. She is one of 7 finalists that will travel to New York City for an awards ceremony from April 10th-11th.

Th prestigious award has been given to the nation’s top amateur athlete annually since 1935. It has never been won by a volleyball player, male or female, in its history.

Carlini is a 4-time AVCA All-American, including 3 First-Team honors. She was named the 2014 Big Ten Conference Player of the year and is a two-time Big Ten Conference Setter of the Year.

As a senior, she ranked 3rd nationally (and 1st in the Big Ten) with 11.81 assists per set and ended her career with 5,599 assists – second in program history. She ranks first in program history with 74 double doubles in her career. With Carlini at setter, the Badgers went to four consecutive Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA tournament. Carlini is just the second Wisconsin Badger, after former football running back Ron Dayne, to be named a finalist for the award.

Voting is open to fans now, who can vote from multiple devices daily from now through March 22nd.

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2016 Finalists

• Ashleigh Johnson, Water Polo – led Team USA to a gold medal at the Olympics in Rio and was named Top Goalkeeper of the tournament
• Lauren Carlini, Volleyball – 4-time All-American at Wisconsin, ranked 3rd nationally in 2016 in assists-per-set
• Ginny Thrasher, Rifle – The 2016 NCAA champion at West Virginia earned the United States’ first gold medal at the 2016 Olympics winning the 10m air rifle
• Kyle Snyder, Freestyle Wrestling – The Ohio State undergrad became the United States’ youngest Olympic wrestling gold medalist in Rio, and also won the NCAA title in the 285 lb. weight class, upending the two-time defending champion Nick Gwiazdowski.
• Kayla Harrison, Judo – won her 2nd Olympic gold medal in 2016 and finished #1 in the world in the -78kg weight class.
• Laurie Hernandez, Gymnastics – A member of the Final Five, She was second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the all-around. She won silver in the balance beam in Rio and gold as part of the team competition.
• Aly Raisman, Gymnastics – Captain of the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gymnastics teams, Raisman won a gold and 2 silvers in Rio. That made her the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history.