Every Tuesday, UK Athletics recognizes outstanding performances for our student-athletes. These are the honorees for the week ending Sunday, Aug. 28:
Women’s soccer: Arin Gilliland
Arin Gilliland scored her first collegiate goal in Kentucky’s 2-1 win over Eastern Kentucky … After playing the entire first half on the defensive back line, Gilliland was moved up top to help generate offense … Trailing EKU 1-0 late in the second half, Gilliland drew a foul inside the box resulting in a PK for the Wildcats, UK would convert with 10 minutes left in the match to tie … Gilliland then scored the game-winner with just over two minutes left in the match
Women’s soccer: Kelsey Hunyadi
Kelsey Hunyadi netted two goals in two matches on the week including an assist on the game-winning goal against Ohio … She is the first player in program history to have scored a goal in each of UK’s first three games of the season … Against Eastern Kentucky, Hunyadi scored the game-tying goal off a penalty kick with 10 minutes left … Against Ohio, Hunyadi put the Wildcats ahead 1-0 with her third goal in as many matches this season … She then assisted on the winning goal nine minutes later collecting her first assist of the season.
Volleyball: Stephanie Klefot
Junior Stephanie Klefot began the 2011 season right where she left off from a season ago. Klefot was tremendous in leading the Wildcats to a 2-1 record which included an upset of No. 23 Tulsa on the weekend. She averaged 5.08 digs per set and posted 20 or more digs in two matches, while reaching double figures in all three matches. She has now posted 40 matches in her career with 10 or more digs and 14 career matches with 20 or more scoops. She was served at 86 times and committed just five errors for an impressive .942 percentage. Klefot’s exceptional passing and defensive effort helped propel UK’s setter Elizabeth Koberstein to 70 assists in a win against Tulsa to become the first player since 2006 to tally 70 or more helpers. Klefot currently ranks second in the league in digs per set, but tops the league in total digs thus far into the season.
Volleyball: Jackie Napper
Freshman Jackie Napper made a significant positive impact for the Wildcats in the opening weekend of action. In her first collegiate match she picked up a career-best 14 digs in a win over Albany. She also totaled 13 in the victory against No. 23 Tulsa. Her 2.42 digs per set ranked second on the team, and her .959 reception percentage was tops among defensive specialists. Napper is the first true freshman defensive specialist in the Craig Skinner era to begin her career with two of her first three matches posting 10 or more digs, and first with 10 or more scoops in her very first collegiate match. The last player to achieve the feat was former UK great and two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year Jenni Casper who had eight digs in her first match and then posted double-figures in the next two matches.
Volleyball: Becky Pavan
Senior Becky Pavan was named to the FSU Invitational All-Tournament team following a terrific opening weekend of action in leading UK to a 2-1 record which included an upset of No. 23 Tulsa. Pavan matched a career-high kill output with 19 kills in the win over Tulsa. She also tossed down 18 in a win over Albany. In both of those matches she used an above .500 attacking clip. Pavan led the team in kills and blocks in both of Kentucky’s wins. As a middle blocker/right side hitter she also had five digs in a pair of matches. Her three assists against the Golden Hurricane also matched a career-best, showing her versatility. Her hitting percentage ranks as the fourth best in the league while also ranking seventh in kills per set average.
Men’s soccer: Tyler Riggs
Had a breakout weekend in the season-opening wins over Dayton and No. 9 Michigan, coming off the bench in both games to lead the Wildcats to wins with three total goals … Netted the game-winning goal in both games on opening weekend, getting the Wildcats on the board in a win over Dayton on Friday night in front of 1,334 fans at the UK Soccer Complex … With UK trailing No. 9 Michigan in the 78th minute on Sunday, Riggs came off the bench to net the game-tying goal in traffic inside the six-yard box, then finding the net under four minutes later with the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute on a breakaway, beating the standout UM keeper one vs. one … Riggs’ first career two-goal game marked the 56th all-time multi-goal in UK men’s soccer history, leading UK to its first win over a top-10 ranked foe since besting No. 1 SMU in 2007 in Lexington … The win over Michigan was UK’s second in the last three games, with the Wildcats victory coming over a Michigan club that advanced to the NCAA College Cup last season … A 2010 All-Conference USA and freshman All-Conference USA selection, Riggs led UK with five goals as a freshman, needing just two games into 2011 to net three goals on six total shots.
