Kentucky players might have new roles but rival coaches still picked UK to be one of the nation's best teams again. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky lost the national player of the year in Madison Lilley, perhaps the best setter ever to play collegiate volleyball. The Cats also lost Gabby Curry, a three-time all-SEC libero, and the team’s emotional leader. All-American hitter Avery Skinner is also gone. Yet for those worried about the future of Kentucky volleyball, relax. The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its preseason top-25 poll Monday and Kentucky, the defending national champion, is No. 3 behind Texas and Wisconsin.
Kentucky got 17 first-place votes while Texas, the team UK beat in the national title game last season, got 32 and Wisconsin 15. Kentucky plays at No. 2 Wisconsin on Sept. 10 and will also play at No. 15 Louisville Sept. 15. The Cats will host No. 21 Stanford Sept. 19 and No. 6 Florida on Nov. 26 and 27 to end the regular season. Kentucky also has an exhibition match at No. 16 Western Kentucky on Thursday.
“The most important thing after having success is not forgetting how you got here and how you go about things,” said Kentucky coach Craig Skinner. “This is certainly a different situation (as defending national champion) and an exciting and new era.
“You want to find a way to do it again. How do we compete for the championship this year?”
Skinner said UK was facing a “hell of a schedule” but he wanted his team challenged before SEC play.
“Florida has everybody back. Arkansas has everybody back. Texas A&M has a lot of good pieces. LSU will be better. Tennessee will be top three or four in the league,” the UK coach said. “It will be a battle every time out.”
Due to COVID, Kentucky won the national championship in the spring and now has to turn around and start regular season play again next week. Skinner said “managing” the workload so his team would be strong in October and November could be a challenge.
However, Kentucky has a lot of terrific building blocks starting with senior all-American outside hitter Alli Stumler, who became a national star in postseason play.
“There are always things you can improve on. Whether statistically, she is the same does not matter. But how does she impact the team and people around her? Her role might be different. She is so capable and so talented and she is always working to do something better. She is already serving and blocking better,” Skinner said. “She wants to improve her defense and transition. The sky’s the limit for her and where she wants to go.”
Kentucky has five sophomores — hitter Madi Skinner, hitter Sophie Fischer, libero Riah Walker, hitter Reagan Rutherford, and middle blocker Elise Goetzinger. Skinner got the most playing time last year but the five made up the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.
Rutherford started early in the season but did not play as much late in the year.
“She has a chance to make a big impact,” Skinner said. “Goetziner will have the opportunity to score more points. Madi will be playing on the left side and that’s a different role but she can still do really good things.”
Curry said last year Walker would eventually be better than her but she’s competing with senior Lauren Tharp, junior Maddie Berezowitz, and freshman Eleanor Beavin for that spot. “It’s a very competitive spot and they are going at it,” Skinner said.
Talented freshman Emma Grome, a top 30 recruit, or senior Cameron Scheitzach will take over for Lilley at setter.
“Both have similar games but contrasting styles,” the UK coach said. “Both are super talented. It’s an exciting competition.”
Curry and Lilley seldom, if ever, came off the mat the last four years when UK won the SEC championship every year. Not having them on the floor will be different for everyone, including the coach.
“We had such a great run with that senior class and Gabby and Madison seldom missed a set,” Skinner said. “We are going to be a different type team. Replacing 50 percent of our lineup is a huge challenge but I am anxious to see what this team brings and what we can implement and do.”
