Edmond, Lilley Pick Up SEC Honors
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the third time this season, two Kentucky volleyball players have claimed Southeastern Conference weekly awards in the same week after junior outside hitter Leah Edmond was named SEC Player of the Week and sophomore setter Madison Lilley earned setter of the week for their performances in UK’s wins against Arkansas and Missouri.
Edmond hauled in her seventh-career conference player of the week honor and 15th career SEC weekly honor after totaling 41 kills (5.86 per set) on 88 swings for a .330 hitting percentage during UK’s 2-0 home weekend. The junior’s 26 terminations against Missouri matched her career-high total, ranked third in the SEC this season and was the most kills of any individual in the conference in a single match for the week. Edmond’s offensive effort against the Tigers resulted in the most kills in a four-set match in the league and pushed her past Lauren O’Conner for second place on the UK all-time kill list. It marked the fourth time she’s posted 20 or more kills in a match this season. Edmond has now posted at least 15 kills in 11 of the 13 matches this season and has tallied double-digit kill totals in each of her last 32 matches.
Lilley received her 10th SEC weekly honor of her career and third of the season after she totaled 83 assists (11.80 per set), 20 digs (2.86 per set), and five blocks. The sophomore put up her fifth double-double of the season and third in the last four matches after accumulating 45 assists and a career-high 16 digs against Missouri. It was the eighth time this season she’s notched 40+ assists. Her 45 assists on Sunday became the most in a four-set match in the conference while her 38 assists in the win over Arkansas was the second most in a three-set match. Lilley also added two aces to contribute to UK’s record-breaking performance of 11 aces in the win over the Tigers. She ranks second in the conference overall in assists per set with 10.76 and first in conference matches with 11.27.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday when the Wildcats travel to Mississippi State. First serve is slated for 8 p.m. ET.
