‘You can feel the buzz.’ SEC favorite UK set to open volleyball season vs. Tennessee.
The University of Kentucky volleyball team opens its unique schedule Friday night against Tennessee in Memorial Coliseum, and a trio of decorated seniors is set to lead the Wildcats’ pursuit of a fourth consecutive Southeastern Conference championship.
“Our players were jacked in practice yesterday,” Kentucky Coach Craig Skinner, who is entering his 16th season, said during a media teleconference Thursday. “You can feel the buzz over the last couple days. Looking forward to our first opportunity.”
Gabby Curry will lead the charge, coming off two consecutive seasons in which she was voted SEC Libero of the Year. Setter Madison Lilley returns after earning All-SEC and All-America Second Team honors each of her first three seasons. Middle blocker Kendyl Paris will look to take another step after a breakout junior season in which she recorded the first three games of her career with 10 or more kills.
“Our senior class has been phenomenal,” Skinner said. “The level of competition in the gym is very high and they certainly make that happen.”
The SEC is one of just four leagues playing a fall schedule this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the pandemic, the general public will not be allowed to attend UK’s home matches.
Kentucky will play an eight-match conference slate, facing four teams twice apiece. The Cats will host the Volunteers on Friday and Saturday and Auburn on Nov. 7-8. UK will play at Missouri on Oct. 28-29 and wrap up the fall season at Mississippi State on Nov. 12-13. The NCAA Tournament has been pushed back to spring 2021.
The strange schedule is not the only major change UK will face this season. For the first time since 2015, the Wildcats will be without four-time All-America outside hitter Leah Edmond — perhaps the greatest player in program history.
“You don’t just throw someone out there and say ‘hey, be a Leah Edmond,’” Skinner said. “She’s going to be very difficult to replace. I think the biggest challenge for us is who’s going to take the swing when the pressure’s on ... who’s going to bail us out?”
UK is in prime position to answer that challenge and keep things rolling. In addition to an abundance of returning talent, Kentucky for the first time in program history will field the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. Five freshmen join the Wildcats this season, led by a pair of top-10 recruits: Reagan Rutherford (No. 10) and Madi Skinner (No. 2) — sister of UK senior Avery Skinner (no relation to Craig Skinner).
“They bring a level of athleticism that you better pay attention to,” Craig Skinner said of his freshman class. “They add a dimension that we haven’t necessarily had before ... They are very competitive and they are not going to want to be on the sideline. But at the same time, (their) character will add a lot to the culture of this team.”
Kentucky is again favored to win the SEC according to a preseason poll of the league’s coaches. The Wildcats received 11 of 13 first-place votes and placed three players on the Preseason All-SEC Team: Curry, Lilley and junior Ali Stumler — an outside hitter who was SEC Freshman of the Year in 2018 and last season earned All-SEC and All-America Second Team honors.
This weekend
Kentucky vs. Tennessee
Where: Memorial Coliseum (no spectators)
Friday: 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Saturday: 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
