Skinner Ready to Show Improved Game in 2019

Avery Skinner made an immediate splash with the Kentucky volleyball team as a freshman in 2017. The Katy, Texas, native was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after racking up 362 kills, a mark that was second on the team that season.

Skinner seemed ready to have a big season as a sophomore, but it never materialized. Skinner saw her playing time diminish as other players filled specific roles on the team.

“We just had a lot of good people come in and there was good competition right off the bat,” Skinner said. “Going in (to the season), we were doing well, so Craig decided to stick with what was working.”

The lack of playing time led to Skinner making changes in her preparation in the most recent offseason.

“The biggest thing for me was changing my mindset from just getting reps in practice to realizing that getting reps outside of practice was more important,” Skinner said. “Just getting people to come in with me, getting passing reps, serving. Just the things that I can work out without being with the whole team and bringing that into the game is working for me.”

UK head coach Craig Skinner, no relation, knew that Avery Skinner was very important to the team down the stretch of the 2018 season, even though she was seeing limited time on the court.

“Avery put in the time, energy and effort as we went through the season,” the UK head coach said. “We really needed her at the end of the year in some matches to close out some matches and to get points for us.”

Craig Skinner knows how important Avery can be to the 2019 Cats.

“She is a gifted point scorer and her back row game is at a completely different place right now than it was when she got here,” Craig Skinner said. “Avery rounding her game into more of a complete volleyball athlete has really helped her.”

The UK head coach has seen improvements in Skinner’s game already this fall.

“In preseason so far, she’s really point scoring and killing the ball at a level that she was a couple of years ago,” the UK head coach said. “So, being able to sustain that throughout the year will be extremely important for this team to be its best.”

Avery Skinner thinks that the team’s trip to Brazil in May was very important for her game.

“I think going to Brazil gave me more confidence,” she said. “I think I’m definitely getting back to (playing like her freshman year), so I’m excited about it.”

And while Avery Skinner is confident in her game heading into the 2019 season, she’s also confident about the prospects for the Cats.

“We don’t really have a lot of turnover, so everyone is comfortable with each other on the court,” Skinner said. “We have those leaders established and I think that will really help going into the season.”

And if Avery Skinner can once again become a major contributor, it would add yet another weapon for these Wildcats.