Dec. 18, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Seniors Whitney Billings and Alexandra Morgan capped their collegiate careers by hauling in All-America accolades it was announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Wednesday. Billings was selected to the second team for the second time in her career, while Morgan claimed honorable mention honors. The duo extends UK’s all-time honors to 20 in program history with 15 of those accolades coming under the direction of head coach Craig Skinner.
With selection to the second team Billings is UK’s first-ever three-time All-America honoree and the first player in program history to earn recognition to either the first or second teams twice in her career. She was an honorable mention selection as a sophomore before earning second team honors in each of the last two seasons.
Morgan captured an honorable mention nod for the first time her career. She is the ninth different Wildcat in Skinner’s tenure to earn All-America distinction.
Billings, a senior right side hitter, can now be concluded as one of the most prolific players in program history. In addition to her three All-America honors, 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 enjoyed the most productive 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 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).
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