Alli Stumler says it is special to play for Kentucky coach Craig Skinner. She had 16 kills and 10 digs in Thursday's win over Purdue that put UK into the Final Four. (NCAA Photo)
What does it mean to Craig Skinner to finally have Kentucky in the Final Four for the first time?
“It certainly has been a dream,” Skinner said after his team swept Purdue Monday in Omaha to set up a national semifinal match with Washington Thursday at 7 p.m. “I just want the players to feel what that is like and understand the reward of the effort you put in to get to this point.
“The amount of effort this team has put in is unbelievable. A chance to win a national championship is huge. It means so much to be the first class I had when I got here and all the others. All of us dreamed of getting this program to the point where it was mentioned in the same sentence with teams that win national championships and get to the Final Four.”
Junior Alli Stumler said she was “pumped” to be part of the team that got Skinner to his first Final Four.
“He has three kids, a wife, and sacrifices a lot to be with us. It’s awesome to play for him and I am happy to get him in the Final Four,” Stumler said.
She said it was “special” to play for Skinner and his staff because they all care so much about the sport.
“Craig is such an advocate for the sport and growing the game in Lexington,” Stumler said. “He has summer camps and the team helps. He tells us how he started out with 16 (campers) and now has hundreds. The sport has grown here. Craig recruits awesome girls who want to give back and that’s what makes Kentucky special.”
However, Skinner does wish more would share and understand his passion. He said “one frustration” he did have was that he looked at several locations, including the ESPN app, and there was not a single story about women’s athletics or NCAA volleyball on the front page.
“Hopefully tomorrow or the next day (that changes). Volleyball is a huge sport and deserves that attention,” Skinner said.
