Alli Stumler a True Team Player for UK Volleyball
The Kentucky football team adopted the slogan “For the Team” for this season. But with all apologies to the gridiron Cats, no one on UK’s campus this fall has done more for their team than UK volleyball senior Alli Stumler.
With the departure of Avery Skinner after last season, and Leah Edmond the season before, Stumler was in line to put up some huge offensive numbers this season. However, going in that direction that could have made the Cats too one dimensional and easier for opponents to combat.
Instead, Stumler did what she’s done for four years – whatever is best for the team. For the 2021 Cats, that meant taking on more of a leadership role and playing a more all-around game.
The latest example of Stumler doing whatever the team needs came on Wednesday night as the Cats swept Georgia in Memorial Coliseum. Stumler had it all going in this match, with 15 kills and no errors on 35 swings (.429). She added 13 digs and a pair of block assists. It was the seventh time in the last 12 matches that Stumler recorded a double-double, the eighth time this season and the 28th time in her career.
The 15 kills and 13 digs were the most Stumler, a native of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, has had in any three-set match this season.
Stumler’s teammates see the 2020-21 First Team AVCA All-American give to her teammates on a daily basis.
“I always see every day, Alli gives to the team,” senior Lauren Tharp said. “She gives so much. It’s never about Alli. She’s always talking to other players. She’s just a giver. A really good player to play with.”
For head coach Craig Skinner, coaching a player like Stumler is exactly what a head coach wants.
“Alli’s constantly trying to improve. That’s all you want from an athlete and a teammate,” Skinner said. “Zero hitting errors on 35 swings is really good. Her connection with Emma (Grome) was good and continues to improve each and every week. She’s given verbally, body language, mentally, all you want from your senior leaders.”
As for Stumler, she takes great pride and joy in the success of her teammates.
“I’ve definitely learned from past leaders that the best teams are those that give back to each other,” Stumler said. “You’re going to receive more once you give more. I’ve personally seen that, when teammates give to others and want others to succeed more, you personally start having better success. As someone who has seen that and experienced it, that’s all I want to do. How can I make people around me better? If I have zero kills and my team is winning and we’re sweeping teams, that’s perfect. That’s what it’s all about.”
Stumler’s value is much more than anything that can be measured statistically, although her stats are impressive. They also show how important she is to this team. Stumler is tied for the team lead in service aces, second on the team this season in kills and digs and fifth in block assists.
If Kentucky is to win a fifth straight SEC regular season title and make a run at defending their national championship, Stumler will need to continue to be a do-it-all player. It’s a role that she has excelled in her entire career and even more so this season.
