Newcomers Ready to Make Impact for UK Volleyball

Kentucky head volleyball coach Craig Skinner welcomes another talented crop of newcomers this season, a group that is expected to make both immediate and long-term contributions to the program.

Five newcomers, including four freshmen, join the Wildcats’ roster this season. Skinner expects that all five can make this year’s team better.

“They’re all very talented and ready to play,” Skinner said. “I think they’re probably even more athletic and more ready than we thought, as coaches. They are certainly going to be as impactful as a lot of (recruiting) classes we’ve had in the past.”

The one non-freshman in the group of newcomers, junior college transfer Caitlyn Cooper, may have the most immediate impact on the team. Cooper, who originally signed with UK two years ago but spent the last two seasons at Iowa Western College, is ready to get her UK career going.

“It’s a relief, when I got here, it was a weight off my shoulders,” Cooper said. “I’m very excited. The girls and the coaching staff have really welcomed me.”

Now that she’s here, Cooper, a 5-11 outside hitter from Missouri City, Texas, is ready to make an impact on this year’s team.

“I’m a really high jumper, so hopefully you will see me get above the net and use different shots,” Cooper said. “Also, hopefully my defense (is better), I’ve been working on that a lot.”

Skinner is excited about what Cooper brings to the floor.

“Caitlyn is one of the most explosive, dynamic athletes that we have recruited,” Skinner said. “She’s very competitive and has the versatility to play on the left side or the right side of the net. Very talented, point-scoring blocker. The team loves competing with her. She’s a winner and she’s a great addition.”

Four talented freshmen are also ready to get their careers going in Lexington.

Gabby Goddard, a 6-3 middle blocker from Lexington, Mass., is looking forward to being a part of the UK program, which felt like the right fit for her almost immediately.

“When I got here, the atmosphere, it just really felt like a family,” Goddard said. “I’m really excited to be a part of it.”

The irony that she grew up in Lexington, Mass., is not lost on Goddard, although she is quick to point out that the two towns are very different.

“Lexington, Massachusetts is more of a small town,” Goddard said. “Here, there are farms and the big city. There’s a lot of cool places to go and food to eat, so I’m excited to be here.”

Skinner sees a lot of raw talent in Goddard, and looks forward to helping the freshman add to her skillset.

“Gabby is an extremely long, tall athlete who is still very green to the game,” Skinner said. “(She’s) one of the quickest learners that we’ve had in the program. She’s going to be an extremely dynamic blocker and physical presence in the middle for us.”

Cameron Scheitzach, a 5-9 setter from Orlando, is expected to back up All-American starting setter Madison Lilley. Scheitzach takes advantage of the opportunity to learn from Lilley every day.

“Madison is an amazing all-around person and setter,” Scheitzach said. “Throughout practice, she’s always teaching me, helping me, offering to answer any questions for me. One thing I can learn from her is consistency, she’s one of the most consistent setters I’ve ever seen.”

Scheitzach, who said that her family in the Louisville area made UK an even more attractive option, hopes to fill whatever role the team needs from her in 2018.

“I think I can bring energy, that’s one of my strengths,” Scheitzach said. “Just knowing my role and helping in whatever role I can take on for the team.”

Skinner, who first met Scheitzach at a UK volleyball camp, has been impressed with her game.

“Cam is a very talented setter that really came to us at our camp and showed us what she’s capable of,” Skinner said. “She’s a great competitor and teammate and a really talented player. She’s athletic, selfless, hard-working and competitive.”

Alli Stumler, a 6-1 outside hitter from Floyds Knobs, Indiana, has impressed Skinner early in camp.

“Alli is one of the most polished players in the outside hitting position that we’ve recruited in a long time,” Skinner said. “She can execute all skills at her position at a high level. It’s rare to see someone as a freshman who can do that at such a high level.”

Stumler, who led the state of Indiana in kills last season while being named second-team All-American, has been committed to UK since her sophomore season in high school. She hopes to contribute to the 2018 Wildcats any way she can, including being an outstanding teammate.

“Being a 6-1 outside, I’m not the tallest, but people tell me I have a lot of shots,” Stumler said. “My defense and passing really help me stay in the game. I have a lot to learn. My goal for myself is to be the best teammate and to let the person next to me know that they can rely on me.”

Lauren Tharp, a 5-6 defensive specialist from Mercy High School in Louisville, joins the Cats this season as part of the 2018 recruiting class. When asked if she grew up as a UK fan in the Derby City, Tharp did not hesitate.

“Yes, I was a huge UK fan,” Tharp said. “My whole family is full of UK fans. We went to basketball games, football games. We were really big fans.”

Now, Tharp is ready to display her skills in the blue and white.

“I’m good at serving, short serves and moving my serve around a lot,” Tharp said. “I’m also pretty steady on serve receive as well.”

Skinner has had his share of outstanding defensive specialists from Louisville, and he sees Tharp fitting into that same mold.

“Lauren is from the long line of defensive specialists that we’ve had from Louisville that are just ready to play,” Skinner said. “She’s played for a long time, she’s played on a high school team that’s won a state championship, played on high level club teams. Very instinctual, athletic, gritty, tough libero from Louisville. She steps right in and feels very comfortable in this pace of game.”

While this UK recruiting class may not have had the national recognition that some of Skinner’s past recruiting classes have received, the coaching staff has been pleased with the efforts of the Wildcat newcomers so far and are looking forward to see what these newcomers can bring to the court this season.