Dec. 14, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three players were named American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America selections it was announced on Wednesday morning. Junior Stephanie Klefot was honored as a second-team selection, while sophomore Whitney Billings and junior Christine Hartmann were honorable mention honorees. The honors are the first of their careers.
With three players earning All-America status it ties a program record for number of All-America honors in a single season. UK had three different players honored in 2009 as well. UK coach Craig Skinner has had eight different players earn 10 All-America honors since 2007. That tally is the most All-America selections in a five-year span in program history.
Klefot is a second-team selection after setting a single-season record with 608 digs. She topped the 20-dig plateau on 11 occasions throughout the season, including two NCAA matches. Furthermore, she tallied 10 or more digs in 33 matches and led the team in digs in all but one match this season. She has topped 500 or more digs in back-to-back seasons and is one of just two players in school allure to achieve the feat.
Billings was named an honorable mention selection in just her sophomore season and she is the first player in the Skinner era to earn All-America accolades as an underclassman. Billings averaged 2.44 kills and 2.58 digs per set as UK’s right-side attacker. She tallied six double-double efforts while also reaching double-figures in kills on 14 occasions.
Hartmann is a first-team selection as an honorable mention honoree. She led a UK offense to 14.20 kills per set on a .250 hitting percentage with six different players leading the team in kills in at least one match this season. Hartmann dished out 11.20 assists per set while also contributing 1.01 kills per set herself. She set new career-highs in every category including blocks, aces and hitting percentage this season.
The Wildcats closed out their season with a 28-6 overall record and reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons. The trio will lead the way for 10 letterwinners in 2012 for Skinner’s squad.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team and all of Kentucky’s 22 teams. A complete list of AVCA All-America honors can be viewed at avca.org.
