Morgan Emerging as All-Around Threat for UK Volleyball
During her first three seasons at Kentucky, Brooke Morgan was used primarily as a right-side hitter for the Wildcats. However, prior to her senior season, head coach Craig Skinner asked Morgan to switch positions and move to middle blocker, a position that Morgan had not played since her high school days in Dike, Iowa.
Morgan has responded to the change by playing some of the best volleyball of her career. That trend continued on Friday night as Morgan and the 19th-ranked Wildcats swept Arkansas 25-14, 26-24, 25-17 at Memorial Coliseum.
The 6-5 Morgan showed her all-around game in Friday’s win, notching 15 kills with only one error on 24 swings (.583 hitting percentage). The 15 kills tied Morgan’s career high, which came earlier this season against College of Charleston.
Morgan and the Wildcats got off to a very fast start, racing to a 6-0 lead before ultimately winning the first set 25-14. In that set, Morgan had six kills on eight swings with no errors (.750).
Skinner thought that Morgan helped set the tone of the match early.
“We got a lot of swings out of Brooke tonight, which was nice, because she’s going to see a lot of opportunities to kill the ball,” Skinner said. “What I was most impressed with tonight was that, even though the balls she didn’t kill, she made it really hard for the other team to score a point with it. “
Morgan had opportunities in Friday’s match, and she simply took advantage of them.
“I know right away they are going with Leah (Edmond), so I was open, they had one blocker (on me),” Morgan said. “The passing was really good and it allowed me to get my swings. And (setter) Madison (Lilley) had a great game, too.”
Morgan has also been asked to serve and play on the back row this season, something that’s new to her in a Kentucky uniform. On Friday, she recorded her 12th service ace of the season, which leads the team.
“Serving is a new role for me, this is the first time I’ve served since I’ve been here,” Morgan said. “I was a little hesitant at first, but now I’m kind of getting in the flow of it.”
Skinner sees Morgan’s serve as a big weapon for the Cats.
“She’s got a heck of a serve, I wouldn’t want to be returning it,” Skinner said. “Her serve was the reason we won the second set. That’s a big momentum lift from her.”
For good measure, Morgan had three digs and two block assists in Friday’s win.
Friday’s match was the fifth time this season, and the 17th time in her career, that Morgan registered double figures in kills. Morgan entered the match third in the SEC and 27th in the country in hitting percentage (.391), a number that will go up after Friday’s match.
Skinner appreciates Morgan’s volleyball IQ in addition to her physical skills.
“Her knowledge of the game, her understanding of the game, she’s very confident right now,” Skinner said. “I think her preparation throughout the summer and the preseason has prepared her for these moments. She’s embraced playing in the middle and she’s playing as well as anyone in the league right now.”
As Kentucky tries to repeat as SEC champions, Morgan’s improved play will continue to be important to the team.
