Kentucky Volleyball Signs Four in November NLI Window

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Volleyball program signed four players to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Included in the Class of 2019 is Elise Goetzinger (Blue Mounds, Wisconsin), Reagan Rutherford (Missouri City, Texas), Madi Skinner (Katy, Texas) and Riah Walker (Sarasota, Florida). All four players signed their NLI’s on Wednesday and will be eligible to compete beginning in the Fall of 2020 for Kentucky.
 
“Our 2020 class has a chance to be the most influential class in our program’s history,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said. “The combination of their physical talents and skills of the game will be significant for our team immediately and the future as we continue to pursue championships.  All four of them have a sibling competing in D1 athletics, and they understand the passion and commitment it takes to be successful at this level. Elise, Madi, Reagan, and Riah are equally good people off the court and we are all looking forward to them joining the program.”
 

Elise Goetzinger
Middle Blocker; Blue Mounds, Wisconsin

• Ranked as the No. 27 recruit in the country by PrepVolleyball
• Second-Team AVCA Under Armour All-American
• First Team All-Conference in 2017, 2018 and 2019
• First Team All-State in 2018 and 2019
• Achieved 1,400 kills in three years on her varsity team
• Also a track athlete, as she was a Regional and Sectional champion in the high jump in 2018

Reagan Rutherford
Opposite/Setter; Missouri City, Texas

• Ranked as the No. 10 recruit in the country by PrepVolleyball
• First-Team AVCA Under Armour All-American
• Senior season was John Turner Adidas All-Tournament and Fraulein Fest All-Tournament
• Junior year was the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches’ Association Player of the Year
• Texas Volleyball Coaches’ Association All-State Team and District Setter of the Year (2018)
• State runner’s up in 2018 and District champions in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019

Madi Skinner
Outside Hitter; Katy, Texas

• Ranked as the No. 2 recruit in the country by PrepVolleyball
• Sister of Avery Skinner, a current junior for the Wildcats
• PrepVolleyball Top 50 Juniors list member
• 2019 Girls Junior National Championship All-Tournament Team
• 2019 AVCA Under Armour Third Team All-American
• 2019 PrepVolleyball All-American

Riah Walker
Libero; Sarasota, Florida

• 2016 and 2018 AVCA Under Armour All-American
• Max Preps All-American
• Member of the PrepVolleyball Class of 2020 Senior Aces list
• Broke the Riverview HS record twice with 50 and 67 digs in a single match
• Florida All-State Team member
• Junior Nationals All-Tournament Team member in 2015 and 2017

Kentucky continues its 2019 season on Friday night in Columbia, South Carolina against the Gamecocks at 7 p.m. ET.
 
Follow along with the Wildcats on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com.