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Asia Thigpen - Volleyball - University of Kentucky Athletics 20

AsiaThigpen

  • position OH
  • height 5-10
  • class Junior
  • Hometown Chapel Hill, N.C.
  • High school Northwood
BIO Stats

2025 (Sophomore): 10 kills vs. both SMU and Texas … Now has five matches in her career with 10+ kills … Used as Kentucky’s opposite this season with Eva Hudson and Brooklyn DeLeye taking the swings at outside … 11 matches with multiple digs to go alongside 5+ kills … 1.59 kills per set and 0.55 digs per set were her season averages … Huge swing vs. Texas to extend the match to a fourth set in the SEC Tournament Championship match after UK fought off two Championship Points from the Longhorns … Three matches with 4+ blocks including UNH, Texas in the SEC final and UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.

2024 (Freshman): 2024 SEC All-Freshman Team … SEC Freshman of the Week (10/21/24) … 16 digs vs. Georgia on Nov. 17 was a new career high … Suffered a knee injury vs. SMU in set one on Sept. 13. Missed six matches and returned in a back-row, non-attacking capacity vs. Mizzou on October 6. … Had a career-high 15 kills and hit .583 at Tennessee in first match playing all six rotations

Pre-College:

Asia Thigpen joins the Wildcats as a 5’11” outside hitter and libero from Pittsboro, North Carolina. She has received many individual accolades in her career, including being named First Team All-State, conference MVP and was the No. 1 ranked recruit from the state of North Carolina according to PrepVolleyball. She played at both Northwood High School and Green Level High School, both in North Carolina.

Thigpen called Kentucky her dream school and has athletic genes in her family, as her father, Tommy, served as the co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the University of North Carolina football team as recently as 2024.

“Asia is a fierce competitor with an enormous appetite to compete and play the game. She is always willing to come before practice, stay after, and be a great role model for younger players in her club. She has always been a leader and wants to play this game at the highest level. Asia will put her energy into being a libero at Kentucky. Adding her fire and intensity will be a great addition to Kentucky volleyball and we can’t wait to coach her!” – Craig Skinner, UK head coach

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