Volleyball Cats Excited for Challenge of Facing Florida
It has become cliché for many athletes and coaches to downplay a big game prior to the event. It’s now commonplace to hear participants say that it’s just another game, or that this game happens to be the next one on the schedule.
Kentucky volleyball setter Madison Lilley does not subscribe to that theory. Nor does she shy away from the fact that her team’s match against Florida on Wednesday is big for both teams.
“We’re really excited, we’re trying to focus day by day, but we all have Wednesday in mind,” Lilley said. “We’ve been waiting for it for a while. We’re pumped to play and we know the fans are going to be great and we’re excited to compete. It’s going to be a good match.”
The match features the two highest-ranked teams in the SEC, with Florida checking in at No. 11 nationally, with Kentucky immediately following at No. 12. In the RPI, Kentucky is ninth, while Florida is 19th. The two teams split matches last season, each winning on the other’s home court. But this is the only regular season meeting between the teams this season.
Lilley’s teammate, middle blocker Kendyl Paris, agrees with her fellow sophomore. Paris readily admits that she is excited for Wednesday.
“Of course I am, I think that’s the one match that everyone on our team has been really excited for,” Paris said. “It’s a really important match. It usually decides who ends up winning the SEC. Even if it doesn’t, they’re still a rival and we want to beat them.”
Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner has great respect for the Gators, and he knows his team will need to be at its best.
“Whenever we play Florida, it’s a great match,” Skinner said. “They’re very physical and a great team again this year. I’m sure it will bring some fireworks and bring some people into the gym. It will be a big test for us, no doubt.”
Kentucky currently sits atop the SEC standings with a perfect 10-0 record in league play. Florida is second, with a 10-1 mark. A Kentucky win would put the Cats in a great position heading toward the end of the season.
“Yeah, it does,” Lilley said. “I think we definitely going to need to take it match by match after that. We’re excited about what that could set us up with. But right now, we’re pumped for Florida.”
Kentucky leads the SEC in hitting percentage (.295), kills (13.89 per set) and assists (12.76 per set), while Florida leads the league in blocks (2.87/set). Individually, Kentucky’s Brooke Morgan is tops in the SEC in hitting percentage (.417), while Florida’s Taelor Kellum (.355) and Rachael Kramer (.332) are fourth and seventh, respectively. UK’s Caitlyn Cooper is ninth, hitting .316.
UK junior Leah Edmond is second in the league in kills, knocking down 4.37 per set. Lilley is second in the league in assists per set (10.87), while teammate Gabby Curry is fifth in the league in digs per set (4.13). Florida’s Kramer, who stands 6-8, is first in the league in blocks per set (1.39), while Kellum is fourth (1.19).
Lilley, Paris and the Wildcats are not trying to hide their excitement about Wednesday’s match. They hope that their excitement translates to solid play and a key win as Kentucky defends its SEC Championship.
