Vicky Graff Photo
All-American setter Madison Lilley said her focus was and will continue to be, on having a balanced offensive attack for Kentucky. Lilley and her Kentucky teammates certainly did that Thursday night at the NCAA Tournament during a 25-16, 25-19, 25-18 sweep of UNLV. No. 2 seed Kentucky had five players with eight or more kills led sisters Madi, a freshman, and Avery Skinner, a senior, with 11 kills each while Alli Stumler had 10, Azhani Tealer nine, and Elise Goetzinger eight.
Coach Craig Skinner said it was important to “serve tough” and his team did that with six aces, including two each from Lilley and freshman Riah Walker.
“We had six aces, which is two per set, and tried to limit their options,” Craig Skinner said. “It was a big focus for us.”
Madi Skinner called it “awesome” to play in the NCAA Tournament with her sister.
“It’s great to have her on my side,” Madi said.
Before the match Avery told her sister to “be yourself, play your game, trust us” and everything would work out and it did for Madi and her teammates as they led almost the entire match to go 20-1 on the season.
Madi Skinner said having a three-week break since UK played its last match or competing in the rare environment of the NCAA tourney bubble did not bother her.
“This is my first go. It has been great and been nice and even though it is different circumstances, I don’t know any different. I am just doing what I know how to do,” Madi said. “We are all so excited. We have been training eight months for this. It’s our time to showcase what we have been working so hard on. We are excited to be on the court and want to go out with a bang for our seniors and upperclassmen.”
Craig Skinner knows how Madi Skinner can impact a match even though she’s a freshman.
“Madi hits at a different level and forces defense to defend the whole net,” the UK coach said.
Craig Skinner could tell there was some anxiousness and nervous energy from his team when the match started after UK’s long layoff.
“They handled it. They performed,” the UK coach said. “We talked about the adrenaline was going to be pumping and the first ball might hit the College World Series baseball stadium (which is also in Omaha).”
Lilley said “finally is the keyword” when asked what it was like to finally be back on the court. Kentucky had not played since wrapping up its fourth straight SEC championship three weeks ago.
“Seems like it has been forever (since the last match) but in a weird way we have been training for this since August,” Lilley, who had 44 assists, said. “We are excited to be here. We are working on adapting as well as we can. I think we are the best team in the nation at that. On the court, we want to have as much fun as we can.”
Kentucky will now play Western Kentucky in the NCAA Sweet 16 at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday night, with the match televised by ESPN2, the NCAA announced early Friday morning.
