Dec. 10, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The senior tandem of Whitney Billings and Alexandra Morgan hauled in American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Southeast Region honors it was announced by the association on Tuesday. The honor is the first of Morgan’s career, and it marks the third-straight season that Billings is a first-team honoree. She is the only player in Kentucky history to earn selection to the first-team of the AVCA All-Region team following three seasons of action.
Both players are now eligible for selection to the AVCA All-America squads which will be announced next week in conjunction with the NCAA Championships in Seattle, Wash.
Billings, a senior right side hitter, wrapped up an unprecedented career in the Blue and White on Sunday. She is a four-time All-SEC selection and became one of just five players in program history to amass more than 1,000 career kills and digs. She concludes her career ranking first in the 25-point rally scoring era in both kills (1,393) and points (1,671.5). She struck for 10 or more kills in a match on 73 occasions and tallied double-doubles in 43 matches including an 18-kill, 13-dig performance in her final career match.
The Helena, Ala., native caps her career ranking in the top-10 in program history in multiple categories including fourth in kills (1,393) and digs (1,242), sixth in career attack attempts (3,504) and seventh in sets played (476). She is the only non-libero to rank in the top-five in career digs in UK history.
Morgan is a first-team All-Region selection after earning first-team All-SEC honors during her senior season. She enjoyed the most prolific season of her career during her final campaign. The Birmingham, Ala., native totaled career-highs in hitting percentage (.398) and blocks (1.22). She is the only player in 25-point rally scoring era program history to block 10 or more opponent attacks in two career matches. She had a career-best 11 rejections in a win over Mississippi State.
The senior middle blocker finishes her career owning the 25-point rally scoring era record for career hitting percentage of .355. That mark is also good for second in program history and is the highest of any Craig Skinner coached player. Furthermore, she ranks in the 25-point record books in the following categories: fourth in block assists (277) and total blocks (303), seventh in points (765.5), eighth in kills (559) and block solos (26), and 10th in aces (43) and attack attempts (1,201).
Kentucky’s Memorial Coliseum will play host to the NCAA Regionals Dec. 13-14. The regional will get underway Dec. 13, with semifinal contests at 5 and 7 p.m. ET, while the regional final will commence Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. UK is one of four sites selected for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups with one team advancing to the Final Four in Seattle, Wash., from the Lexington Region. This marks the second time in three seasons Memorial Coliseum will host this premier volleyball event. Tickets for the event are available now at UKathletics.com/tickets.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the Kentucky volleyball team and all 22 varsity sports. For additional info on the volleyball team like Kentucky Volleyball on Facebook or follow the team on Twitter at @KentuckyVB.
