Cameron Scheitzach jumped into the arms of teammate/roommate Alli Stumler after UK won its fourth straight SEC title. Kentucky will open NCAA Tournament play Thursday. (UK Athletics Photo)
Junior Cameron Scheitzach was part of two 6A state volleyball championships during his prep career in Florida before opting to play for Kentucky. While she’s not had a huge presence on the court, she’s become one of the team leaders for Kentucky — the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament that starts next week in Omaha.
Kentucky coach Craig Skinner if you asked any player on this team which player they would love to go into competition with it would be Scheitzach.
“Her enthusiasm, fire and passion are what they love. She wants others to do well,” Skinner said. “She might be the most competitive kid on the team.”
When Skinner was named SEC coach of the year, Scheitzach texted him to congratulate him and say she was “honored” to be on the team.
“You just want to be in her presence because of the enthusiasm she brings every day,” Skinner said.
Scheitzach is roommates with Alli Stumler, one of the SEC’s best juniors, and Lauren Tharp, another regular in the UK rotation. While it might seem like that could lead to some awkward moments since Scheitzach does not play as often, Tharp says it never comes up.
“Cam is awesome. She makes the most impact without touching the court as any person can,” Tharp said. “It’s cool to see how all three of us make an impact on the court or sideline.
“We can all learn a lot from Cam with how encouraging and enthusiastic she is. Alli and I try to lead more by example but Cam is all about enthusiasm and that’s great for our team.”
It’s unusual not to see Scheitzach smiling or clapping during a match. During breaks in play, she’s usually leading the UK volleyball dance team — players not in the match who dance in unison until play resumes.
“Cam is one of those players you do not come across often,” Tharp said. “She may not always be making an impact on the court but off the court she has one of the biggest impacts she can.
“She’s awesome because she keeps all of us engaged. If we are out (of the match), she gives us feedback because she always knows what is going on. We all learn a lot from her and we know we are lucky to have her on our team.”
