Madison Lilley (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky volleyball will have a new setter next year but it may never have another setter quite like All-American Madison Lilley. She’s already won numerous awards, including being named national player of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, for her role in Kentucky’s national championship season.
However, now she has another historic honor. She was named the 2020-21 Roy F. Kramer Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year. As impressive as that sounds, it gets even more impressive when you add that she is the first-ever volleyball player to win the award in the history of the SEC.
Who was the male winner? That was Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama. That’s the kind of company Lilley is in.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey noted both Lilley and Smith were on national championship teams and were named player of the year in their respective sports.
“Each has competed at the highest level of collegiate athletics, benefitted from the world-class support provided by their universities, and, through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence, have reached the pinnacle of collegiate athletic success. Congratulations to DeVonta and Madison and thank you for being part of the SEC,” Sankey said.
Kentucky has not had an SEC Female Athlete of the Year winner since gymnast Jenny Hansen in 1995. The last male athlete at UK to win the award was baseball player AJ Reed in 2014.
If that does impress you enough, consider the other male winners from Kentucky:
Anthony Davis, 2012; Tim Couch, 1999; Jamal Mashburn, 1993; Kyle Macy, 1980; Jack Givens, 1978. The SEC began the men’s award in 1976 and the women’s award in 1984.
Past winners of this award from the SEC are Peyton Manning, Joe Burrow, Candace Parker, Tim Tebow, Bo Jackson, and Bridget Sloan.
“What made Madison so special is that she is worthy of being chosen from both an individual and a team perspective. Individually, her record-setting performance on the court speaks for itself. In addition, the way she led her team – with unyielding commitment to make her teammates their very best and her indomitable will to win – makes her deserving of this distinction,” UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart said.
Lilley is also on the ballot for academic all-American honors — and it is hard to imagine her not adding that honor to her resume as well.
“I’m proud of what Madison has achieved as an athlete. It’s truly incredible what she’s accomplished,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said. “What I’m even more proud of is her vision that she set forth for herself and the team. She set out a path to win a national championship and she followed through with it like the champion she is.”
Lilley is one of four finalists for the 2021 ESPY Award in the category of Female College Athlete of the Year. The winners will be announced during the ESPY’s, scheduled to take place Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
