Aug. 22, 2011
In the days leading up to UK’s first match of 2011, UKathletics.com will provide tidbits and a breakdown of UK’s players by position.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Led by the senior duo of Becky Pavan and Gretchen Giesler, Kentucky has an athletic and experienced group of middle blockers. Sophomore Alexandra Morgan has been one of the biggest surprises of preseason action and freshman Kayla Tronick furthers the depth for the Blue and White in 2011.
“Our leadership is great, it’s a collective effort,” UK coach Craig Skinner said. “These seniors have been through a lot: great wins and tough losses and everything in between so there’s not an experience that they haven’t had to help lead our team through a lot of different situations.”
Gretchen Giesler, Senior
• Seen action in 71 career matches and has totaled five or more rejections on 20 occasions
• Posted 1.59 kills per frame and 0.83 blocks per set in her junior campaign
• Struck for a career-best 16 kills in her junior season at Alabama
• Has led the Wildcat defense in blocking 24 times in her career
Alexandra Morgan, Sophomore
• In her first career start, she came up with eight blocks in a win over in-state rival Louisville
• Had eight kills on three occasions in her first season including a win over South Florida
• Totaled 1.06 kills per set and ranked second on the team with an average of 0.94 blocks per frame in 2010
• Had five or more blocks on four occasions in 12 matches played
Becky Pavan, Senior
• UK’s leading returner in every offensive category including kills per set with 2.02
• Has appeared in 96 career matches and totaled five or more blocks 28 times
• Struck for 10 or more hammers on 25 occasions, including a career-best 19-kill performance in a win at Arkansas in 2010
• Tallied 1.88 kills per frame and 0.86 blocks per stanza in her junior campaign
• A 2011 preseason All-SEC selection
Kayla Tronick, Freshman
• AVCA High School All-America honorable mention selection
• Tabbed an All-State performer at Hutchinson High School
• Three-year letterwinner in helping lead Hutchinson to a state runner-up finish
• Owns Hutchinson’s career record in blocks
