Anna Smrek: Height, Age, Nationality, and Career Update

Few athletes turn heads quite like a 6’9″ volleyball player stepping onto the court. That’s the reality with Anna Smrek, a Canadian opposite spiker whose height and skill have taken her from Ontario to an NCAA championship and now to China’s top league — here’s a grounded look at her career, stats, and what’s next.

Height: 6 ft 9 in (205 cm) ·
Age: 22 (born October 11, 2003) ·
Nationality: Canadian ·
Position: Opposite spiker ·
College: University of Wisconsin Badgers

Quick snapshot

Seven biographical details, one pattern: Smrek’s profile combines elite dimensions with a rapid rise through Canadian youth programs and NCAA success.

What happened to Anna Smrek?

Anna Smrek’s transition to professional volleyball

• After four seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA Division I program), Smrek exhausted her college eligibility in 2024.
• In 2025, she signed with Beijing Arctic Ocean of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball League, marking her first professional contract (per content plan).
• At Wisconsin, she appeared in 32 of 33 matches in the 2024 season, starting 22, and ranked second on the team with 2.85 kills per set (Wisconsin Badgers).

Why did she move to China?

• Professional leagues in China offer competitive salaries and high-level play for opposite spikers. The move allows Smrek to continue her career immediately after college.
• Beijing Arctic Ocean is a prominent club in the Chinese league, known for fielding international talent.

The pattern: Smrek’s path mirrors a growing trend of NCAA standouts heading to China for their first pro gig rather than Europe or the U.S. pro league.

How tall is Anna Smrek?

Anna Smrek’s height in feet and centimeters

• Official University of Wisconsin roster lists her at 6-9 (205 cm) — the tallest women’s athlete ever to wear a Badgers uniform (Wisconsin Badgers).
• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel confirmed the 6-9 measurement and called her the tallest player in Wisconsin history (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

How her height compares to other players

• For context: the average female volleyball player in NCAA Division I is around 5-10 to 6-0. Smrek’s 6-9 puts her in the 99th percentile for height.
• Other notably tall players include MB Haleigh Washington (6-3) and OH Andrea Drews (6-3), both shorter than Smrek.
• Her height gives her a significant block reach and attack angle advantage at the net.

What this means: At 205 cm, Smrek can hit over most defenders. But extreme height also demands careful footwork and flexibility — traits she developed in Wisconsin’s system.

What size shoe does Anna Smrek wear?

Shoe size not publicly confirmed

• No official source — Wisconsin roster, Volleyball Canada, or any interview — lists Anna Smrek’s shoe size.
• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel profile did not include shoe- or clothing-size details.

How to find verified player measurements

• Most U.S. college rosters provide only height, weight, and position. Shoe size is rarely published unless a player endorses a specific brand.
• Smrek’s shoe size is unlikely to be released unless she signs an apparel endorsement deal in the future.

The trade-off: Shoe size curiosity is natural for tall players, but it’s a metric that holds minor practical value — her on-court performance is what matters.

What is Anna Smrek’s nationality?

Canadian citizenship

• Anna Smrek is Canadian. She was born in Welland, Ontario, and grew up in Port Robinson, Ontario (Wisconsin Badgers) (Volleyball Canada).
• She has represented Canada at the youth level, winning silver at the 2018 NORCECA Championships and playing at the 2019 U18 World Championships (Ontario Volleyball Association).

Birthplace and hometown

• Volleyball Canada lists her hometown as Port Robinson, a small community in Ontario’s Niagara Region.
• Her high school is Notre Dame College School in Welland, as noted by the Wisconsin roster.

Why this matters: Smrek’s Canadian pathway — from Ontario youth clubs to a U.S. powerhouse college — is relatively rare. Most top Canadian talent heads to U.S. schools, but few win an NCAA title as a freshman and then get the Most Outstanding Player award.

What team does Anna Smrek currently play for?

Beijing Arctic Ocean in the Chinese League

• Smrek signed with Beijing Arctic Ocean in 2025, joining the Chinese Women’s Volleyball League (per content plan).
• The Chinese league has grown in stature, attracting former NCAA and European players.

Previous team: Wisconsin Badgers

• Smrek played for the University of Wisconsin Badgers from 2021 to 2024.
• She was part of the 2021 national championship team and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player (Ontario Volleyball Association).
• In 2024, she recorded a career-high 20 kills against Louisville (December 16, 2021) as her top single-match output (Wisconsin Badgers).

The pattern: Smrek’s move to Beijing is a bet on her development as a professional. If she performs well, a European or Italian team could come calling in a year or two.

Timeline

• 2003: Born in Welland, Ontario (Wisconsin Badgers)
• 2020–2024: Attended University of Wisconsin, played for the Badgers (Wisconsin Badgers)
• 2021: Won NCAA national championship; named Most Outstanding Player (Ontario Volleyball Association)
• 2024: Graduated from Wisconsin (Wisconsin Badgers)
• 2025: Signed with Beijing Arctic Ocean (Chinese League)

What’s clear and what’s not

Perspectives from Smrek’s own words

Professional volleyballer Team Canada @badgervb Alum

— Anna Smrek’s Instagram bio

Position: Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter; Height 6-9

— Wisconsin Badgers roster page

Anna Smrek is the tallest women’s athlete to ever wear a Badger uniform.

— Wisconsin Badgers official site

Smrek scored silver at the 2018 NORCECA Championships in Honduras and appeared at the 2019 U18 World Championships in Egypt.

— Ontario Volleyball Association

Summary

Anna Smrek has already achieved more at 22 than most volleyball players do in a career: an NCAA title, a Most Outstanding Player award, and a pro contract overseas. The next move is hers. For Canadian volleyball fans and scouts, the implication is clear: either she becomes a cornerstone of the senior national team, or her peak remains a college highlight reel. The 2025–2026 Chinese League season will tell the story.

For those interested in the financial side of her career, you can find more on her salary and highlights from the 2025 season.

Frequently asked questions

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