Gabby Curry Named SEC Player of the Week, Madison Lilley Co-Setter
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time in her career, sophomore libero Gabby Curry has been named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week. It’s UK’s fourth player of the week honor this season and her first career SEC weekly honor while sophomore setter Madison Lilley received her 15th weekly award and sixth of the season as the SEC Co-Setter of the Week. The duo teamed up for a pair of honors after spectacular performances in sweeps over No. 11 Florida and Ole Miss.
Curry averaged more than five digs (5.17) per set for the week, including helping UK’s defense suppress Ole Miss on the road with a match-high 22 digs, just one from her career best. After her second-best defensive effort of 2018, the Buford, Georgia, native has now combined for 45 digs (7.5 per set) against Ole Miss this season. She set her career-high of 23 in the sweep of the Rebels at home last month. The UK defense limited both Florida and Ole Miss to hitting clips below .199 and has done so to the last 14 opponents. Curry has posted at least 12 digs in 10 of the last 12 matches and ranks fourth overall in the SEC in digs per set with 4.21, third among conference matches with 4.76.
Lilley grabbed her sixth SEC weekly award of the season after she held match highs in assists for both of this week’s sweeps and 73 in total. The sophomore averaged more than 12 assists (12.17) per set and one block each frame. Lilley came just one dig shy of her eighth double-double in the win over Florida, but her five blocks against Ole Miss matched her most against a conference opponent this season and was only one short of her career high. With her 40 assists in the triumph over Ole Miss, the Overland Park, Kansas, native has posted 40 or more dishes in 11 matches this season and totaled at least 30 in 11 of the last 12. Lilley is ranked second overall in the SEC in assists per set at 10.96 and first among conference matches with 11.29.
UK holds a record of 18-4 and a perfect 12-0 mark in league competition. Kentucky returns home for a pair of matches next weekend. Up first is a date with Mississippi State at 7 p.m. ET inside of Memorial Coliseum on Friday. Kentucky will also host Alabama on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
