Dana Rettke, a middle blocker from Riverside, Illinois, born January 21, 1999, transformed from a late-starting volleyball player into a global force. Known for her towering blocks and sharp attacks, she overcame early doubts to dominate at every level.
NCAA Dominance (Wisconsin, 2017–2021)
At Wisconsin, Rettke became the program's all-time blocks leader (653), earning five straight AVCA First-Team All-American honors—a first in NCAA history. She won Big Ten Player of the Year (2018, 2019), Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year (2019–20, 2021–22), and led the Badgers to their first NCAA title in 2021 with 18 kills and seven blocks in the final. Her 116–24 record included four Final Four runs.
Pro Career (Italy to Turkey)
Rettke turned pro in 2022 with Italy’s Vero Volley Milano, excelling as a top blocker in Serie A1. In 2024, she joined Turkey’s elite Eczacıbaşı Dynavit in the Sultanlar Ligi, contributing double-digit blocks and helping early season wins alongside stars like Tijana Bošković.
She will reunite with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit for the 2025/26 season, aiming to challenge for the title in the fiercely competitive Sultanlar Ligi while making a powerful impact in the prestigious CEV Champions League.
Dana Rettke's profile at Eczacıbaşı Dynavit is here
USA National Team
Debuting in 2019, Rettke helped secure Olympic qualification and won Volleyball Nations League gold (2019, 2022) and bronze (2023). At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she started in key matches, earning silver with seven pivotal blocks in a quarterfinal sweep. She’s now a leader for the No. 5-ranked U.S. team, eyeing the 2028 Games.
Dana Rettke's profile at USA Volleyball is here
