Nov. 18, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two club teammates from the Birmingham, Ala., area will join the Kentucky volleyball team in 2009, as announced by Head Coach Craig Skinner Tuesday. Whitney Billings and Alexandra Morgan have signed National Letters of Intent with the Wildcats.

“In terms of athleticism both of these players are exceptional,” Skinner said. “Both play well above the net and really dominate matches with their athleticism.”

Billings is an outside hitter/middle blocker from Helena, Ala. She was a two-time National High School Player of the Year finalist in both her freshman and sophomore seasons at Pelham High School. She has earned six varsity letters in her time at Pelham, and has twice been named to the Birmingham News All-State first team. As a junior she was the Metro Player of the Year and the Shelby County Player of the Year. In her sophomore season she was named to the Class 6A State All-Tournament team.

Billings has also been a part of several national teams, playing with the Junior Olympic volleyball 14-and-under tour in South Africa. She was also a part of the Volleyball Junior Olympic Girls 16 American All-Tournament team in 2006.

Additionally, Billings is an honor roll student and has been involved in a number of community service projects. She has volunteered her time as a coach and mentor for Our Lady of Sorrow Camp and the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, while also coaching home school kids with Lance Woods and the Birmingham Volleyball Club. In 2004, she toured South Africa with “Bring it to USA Volleyball” and helped promote the event by working with local companies to donate goodie bags for the opposing teams.

“Whitney is quiet by nature off the court,” Skinner said. “But, she is an intense competitor between the lines. She’s extremely versatile and will play all phases of the game at a high level.”

Morgan is a middle blocker from Birmingham, Ala., and will also compete as a high jumper with the UK track and field team. Morgan helped lead Mountain Brook to back-to-back area championships and appearances in the state Sweet 16 tournament. Twice she was named to the first team all-state, and was a second-team member in 2006. Morgan has been named to the Birmingham Area Super All-Metro team as well as the Alabama State All-Star team.

Morgan holds Mountain Brook high school records in single-season kills (542) and blocks (130), as well as being the all-time career leader in both kills and blocks. She played club volleyball with the Alabama juniors and the Birmingham Volleyball Club.

In addition to her success on the volleyball court, Morgan is a two-time high school All-America selection and a three-time state champion in track and field as a high jumper. In the winter, she is a standout center for the Mountain Brook basketball team.

“Our staff is extremely excited to coach Zan,” Skinner said. “She has great character and work ethic. Zan wants to be the best, and when all is said and done she may be one of the best slide attackers the Southeastern Conference has ever seen.”

Both Billings and Morgan are rated in the top-60 of their class by PrepVolleyball.com.

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