Freshmen Hope to Make Impact on UK Volleyball Team

The Kentucky volleyball program has had great success in recruiting during the Craig Skinner era. Those recruiting classes have helped take the Wildcats to new levels, a trend that Skinner hopes will continue with his latest group of freshmen.

Three newcomers join the program this fall, including middle blocker Bella Bell, defensive specialist Maddie Berezowitz and outside hitter Azhani Tealer.

Bell, a 6-3 middle blocker from Blythewood, South Carolina, arrived on campus in January and was able to participate in spring practice. She hopes that arriving early will make the transition to college easier.

“I think it was an advantage athletically and academically because I’m already ahead in classes and I have an idea of the flow of practice,” Bell said. “I feel like I have a huge advantage over some other freshmen.”

Skinner likes how Bell has taken full advantage of the opportunity to enroll early.

“I think it gives someone like Bella a significant advantage,” Skinner said. “If you’re able to come in six months earlier, you are able to weed through everything that’s coming at you at once. Bella is a different person than she was six months ago. She is much more grown up and more of an adult and her presence and enthusiasm have completely changed. Now, she’s able to compete.”

Bell, who chose UK because she says it felt like home, hopes to use her physical skills to make an impact on this year’s team.

“I feel like I am a really strong hitter,” Bell said. “Already being tall, I can hit over the block.”

Skinner sees Bell doing some big things in practice.

“She’s, physically, a very gifted athlete,” Skinner said. “If she can combine that with trying to gain experience and keeping up with the pace of the game, she’s competing to get on the court. We need competition to get on the court, and she’s adding a lot to our middle position group.”

Berezowitz had a connection with UK Athletics even before she arrived on campus. Her uncle, Dan Berezowitz, is the Chief of Staff for the UK Football program. Maddie’s cousin, Zac, is a member of the UK Football team. Maddie says that her connection to UK was an important factor in her college decision.

“UK has always been my dream school,” Berezowitz says. “Craig has always made the program so spectacular. And, like many people know, my uncle is a part of the football program. Knowing that I could go to a place where I have family, that’s a huge attraction. So, I was very excited when they finally gave me the offer.”

Skinner has seen Berezowitz make an impact on the team already.

“Maddie’s presence, enthusiasm, passion for life and maturity, combined with her volleyball desire, are something you don’t have to coach a whole lot,” Skinner said. “She’s super competitive and comes from an athletic family that knows what it’s like to compete at the highest level. She’s coming in and wanting to do everything she can to make Kentucky volleyball really good. She’s already made an impact on campus.”

Berezowitz is one of those people that everyone seems drawn to, and she has already won over her teammates and coaching staff in Lexington. It’s something that comes naturally to the outgoing Wisconsin native.

“It’s the intangibles I bring to the team,” Berezowitz says. “I pride myself in being the person first in the gym and the last out of the gym. I want to be that kid, that glue kid, that locker room kid. I love making sure that the people around me are the happiest they can be. I’ve also always made sure to be the best leader I can be.”

Skinner knows that Berezowitz’s positive spirit can, and does, rub off on her teammates.

“Maddie has always been a leader, we were always told that when we were recruiting her,” Skinner said. “She always takes on a role to make others better. When you’re around someone like that, it encourages you to be your best.”

Tealer is best known for her explosive athletic skills. Despite being 5-10, Tealer uses her physical tools to make herself a force on the front line.

When asked about it, Tealer vastly undersells her athletic ability.

“I jump pretty high and I like to use that to my advantage,” she said. “I’m also kind of a shorter player, so I play with a chip on my shoulder.”

Skinner likes that Tealer, a native of Grand Prairie, Texas, is an outstanding person in addition to being a great athlete.

“Azhani is a gifted athlete, but I think she’s as gifted as a person and a teammate as she is as an athlete,” Skinner said. “And that’s really high praise because not many athletes can do the things she can do.”

Skinner also knows that teams will have to plan accordingly when Tealer is on the floor.

“Automatically, she’s going to add something because you’ve got to pay attention to her when she’s across the net because she’s so explosive that something can happen in a hurry,” Skinner said.

During the recruiting process, Tealer knew she wanted to come to UK. She first noticed that fact when she visited other institutions.

“When I visited other schools, I always compared them to Kentucky,” Tealer said. “When I came (here) and watched practice, it was a really competitive atmosphere, which is really what I was looking for. And the coaching staff is great, I love Craig Skinner, I love everyone.”

All three freshmen have big hopes for the Cats in 2019. And the program has big hopes for the three of them as well.