Kentucky Garners SEC Awards After Historic Win
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After knocking off the No. 1 team in the nation for the first time in program history yesterday, sophomore Leah Edmond and freshman Madison Lilley both brought home Southeastern Conference weekly awards, the league announced on Monday. Edmond won SEC Player and Offensive Player of the Week, while Lilley won Co-Setter of the Week.
Edmond led the Cats on offense in both matches of the week, earning her second straight SEC Player and Offensive Player of the Week award. In the win over No. 1 Florida, she posted a match-high 18 kills while hitting .250 on 40 attempts. Edmond was one dig shy of a double-double with nine in the match. The Lexington, Kentucky, native also contributed one block, one assist and one ace in the win. Against Texas A&M, she produced another match high with 13 kills and added five digs and an ace.
The sophomore is averaging 4.31 kills per set this season, which is the second highest in the SEC and 25th best in the nation. Edmond is in the top 20 in the country in points per set at 4.94, also No. 2 in the SEC.
Lilley garnered her fourth straight SEC Setter award and fifth overall after another stellar week of play. In Kentucky’s win over No. 1 Florida, Lilley tallied 52 assists and helped the team hit .309 with 64 kills. The Overland Park, Kansas, native now has six matches in her career with 50 or more helpers, which is the fourth highest in the 25-point rally scoring era. Lilley recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 10 digs against the Gators.
Against TAMU, Lilley helped the Wildcats hit over .400 for the fourth time this season. The freshman had 33 assists in the three-set sweep of the Aggies and contributed on defense with seven digs and two blocks. Lilley was a threat on offense all weekend as well with six kills on nine attempts.
Lilley heads into the new week averaging 11.92 assists per frame, which is currently the best in the SEC and No. 5 in the nation. She is the best freshman in the nation when it comes to assists, and just one underclassman is having a better season.
Kentucky is back in action next Sunday when UK welcomes Tennessee on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
