Kentucky Volleyball Seniors Will Leave Lasting Impact on Program

The 2017 Kentucky volleyball senior class has already made a huge impact on the program. The legacy that they leave behind will not only include an outstanding season on the court in 2017, but a standard of excellence that this group of seniors has passed on to their younger teammates. 
 
With four regular season matches remaining, this season’s squad has posted a 22-3 record, including a 13-1 mark in the SEC. The Wildcats are currently ranked sixth in the country, and still have a number of potential milestones ahead of them. UK is in contention for its first SEC title since 1988, and is in position to host at least the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Depending on how the rest of the season breaks down, UK could play the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament inside Memorial Coliseum.
 
For now, the team is focused on the task at hand. Kentucky plays its final two regular season home matches this weekend, hosting Georgia on Friday night (7 p.m.) and Ole Miss on Sunday (2 p.m.).
 
UK head coach Craig Skinner knows that his special group of seniors are what’s driving this year’s success.
 
“They are never satisfied,” said Skinner. “It’s very rewarding as a coach to see a group of seniors buy into each other, lead themselves, and lead a group to try to do special things. They have made such a huge impression not just on this program, but on the community and our fans who come and watch them every match.”
 
The seniors agree with their head coach, saying that the success on the court starts with their relationships and buying into each other off the court. This team is one that is very close, according to senior middle blocker Kaz Brown,
 
“That’s something that’s really important to me off the court is trying to have some sort of relationship or connection with my teammates,” Brown said. “I think that contributes to how successful we’ve been on the court.”
 
Fellow senior Ashley Dusek also believes that the close-knit feel of this team comes from how much they love spending time together.
 
“I think it’s hard, especially with a long season, to be with these people all the time,”Dusek said. “But, were all just so close so I think that is so cool.”
 
Seniors Emily Franklin and Darian Mack both see their main roles on the team as teaching and leading the younger players to show them what is expected of them as Kentucky volleyball players.
 
“My role is kind of carrying on the younger kids and showing them the ropes,” Mack said. “I think we have prepared the younger players for the upcoming seasons.”
 
Franklin, a fifth year senior, said that she wanted to teach the younger players what she learned her freshman season,
 
“I sat the bench my first year and just learned from other people, from older people,” Franklin said. “I’ve really taken that into account and I’ve tried to teach the younger ones (this season).”
 
In addition to passing along excellence, Skinner attributes a lot of the success to the seniors being passionate about bettering themselves individually.
 
“That group somehow committed last January that they really wanted to have a special senior year,” Skinner said. “They all, in one way or another, have done two or three things individually to make themselves the best they can possibly be for their teammates and each other. They committed to doing everything they can to make the program better than when they got here. That’s something I challenged them with and they have certainly lived up to that so far this season.”
 
As this weekend’s Senior Day festivities approach, the players are beginning to reflect a bit on their time at UK, while still looking ahead to the opportunities that this season holds. For Brown, she appreciates the fact that her hard work is paying off in such a big way.
 
“It’s really special and cool to witness kind of all the work you have put in over the years kind of come into fruition,” Brown said. “All of the early morning and late nights and literally blood, sweat and tears pay off. It’s been really cool to be a part of and just kind of watch it all unfold.”
 
Senior Harper Hempel almost perfectly summed up her feelings of what Kentucky volleyball has meant to her,
 
“Obviously these past three years have been some of the best years of my life and I’ll never forget them, but especially this last year,” Hempel said. “Just this group of girls and how we all mesh on and off the court is something very special and I’m so thankful to get to be a part of it.”
 
The UK seniors are enjoying their final campaign in Lexington, and trying to make some noise on their way out the door. It seems appropriate that such a special season is happening with a special group who has, and will continue, to give their all to this program.