Kentucky volleyball hopes to show off its No. 1 class sooner rather than later
It’s just your luck to have the nation’s No. 1-ranked volleyball recruiting class for next season and then wonder if there is even going to be a next season.
Such is Craig Skinner’s luck.
“We’re preparing and planning like we’re going to have a fall season,” Kentucky’s volleyball coach said Tuesday via a Zoom call with the media. “Until we’re told differently, there’s no reason why we’re not going to plan that way.”
In fact, Skinner said, his players, all off campus thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, tell him they are in the best shape of their lives, which he admits sounds “weird” considering that thanks to the coronavirus pandemic they are not on campus with UK’s trainers, nutritional staff or facilities.
“But heck, even our neighborhood is in the best shape of their lives,” Skinner said. “I’ve never seen so many people walking. With all the time we have right now, why shouldn’t we be in great shape.”
Skinner is meeting with his team by video conference twice a week. Next Monday, champion NBA player Danny Green, he of the Los Angeles Lakers and formerly of the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors, will be on a Zoom call with the players. Skinner has his Cats reading “Why the Best Are the Best” by Kevin Eastman.
“One of the quotes we’ve told them is, ‘Prepare for your future because that’s where you’re going to spend the rest of your life,” Skinner shared.
Kentucky’s future is bright. Coming off a third consecutive SEC title and 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Skinner signed a 2020 class — Sophie Fischer (Fort Mill, S.C.), Elise Goetzinger (Blue Mounds, Wis.), Reagan Rutherford (Missouri City, Texas), Madi Skinner (Katy, Texas) and Riah Walker (Sarasota, Fla.) — ranked No. 1 by PrepVolleyball.
Skinner, sister of current UK junior Avery, is the nation’s No. 2 ranked recruit. Rutherford is No. 10. Goetzinger is No. 27. Fisher and Walker were both Under Armour All-Americans.
“On paper, physically, it’s an athletically gifted class,” Craig Skinner said. “Obviously, they have to perform. There’s no guarantee of anyone performing until they get to college and play at the highest level. But I think on top of the athletic ability, the quality of people coming in is pretty impressive.”
Will they get to play? Right away, anyway? As a fall sport, volleyball is in the same boat as college football about 2020 competition. Without a treatment or a vaccine for COVID-19, will colleges be open to students in the fall? If not, will student-athletes be allowed to compete, even without fans?
“Are there some hypothetical situations we’re working through? Of course,” Skinner said. “But from the leadership of the SEC and our administration, we’re preparing to play. Is there a chance the season could be shortened? Who knows? Is there a chance we could start on time? I wish I could tell you.”
There are also budgetary concerns. The lack of both NCAA basketball tournaments and spring sports dented revenue numbers. Now programs face the possibility of a shortened or canceled college football season. And college football pays the majority of the athletics freight at most institutions.
“I know we’re not going to be chartering (planes) as much, we’re not going to do some of the normal, customary things in terms of travel,” Skinner said. “And we would certainly be remiss (in not) taking the opportunity to understand that all people are going through financial struggles and we’re going to have to adapt in the way we do things.”
Right now, however, the plan is for play. And even without graduated All-American Leah Edmond, the plan is to play well, especially with the return of Gabby Curry, Madison Lilley and Avery Skinner (among others) combining with a No. 1 freshman class.
“We expect to compete for championships. We expect to compete for the SEC Championship. We expect to compete for the national championship. We’ve been talking about that with our players and our recruiting classes for years. We’re all going to be disappointed if we don’t play at the standard we set.”
