All-American honors show Kentucky has talent level to win national title

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First team All-American Madison Lilley will lead UK against Washington tonight in the Final Four. (NCAA Photo)

Kentucky coach Craig Skinner says it takes a “base level of talent” to make a national championship run.

“That’s a given. You can’t get to this point if you do not have talent,” Skinner said Tuesday in Omaha.

His Wildcats play Washington tonight at 7 on ESPN in the Final Four and he certainly has the talent on his team to be contending for a national title.

The American Volleyball Coaches’ Association put a school-record five UK players on its All-American teams. Setter Madison Lilley and outside hitters Alli Stumler and Avery Skinner were named to the first team while middle blocker Azhani Tealer was named to the second team and libero Gabby to the third team. Freshman Madi Skinner received honorable mention.

Stumler said there are “different” ways to define why UK (22-1) has been so good this season.

“We talk all the time about what makes the team special. We focus on our identity and what makes Kentucky volleyball,” the junior said. “We don’t settle. We are really a determined group. We have great depth, great talent but we don’t settle.”

That’s partially why Skinner is not worried that Washington has had to grind out five-set wins, including one over Florida, in NCAA play while UK has had three straight sweeps.

“I think they are very good. They are very competitive. Good arms and they play good defense,” Skinner said about Washington. “They also have a baseline of talent to get them here. They have established a great program and great culture. It’s a great matchup for both teams. Both teams do not have to rely on offense or defense. We can both be successful on both sides.”

Skinner also noted that while his team swept Purdue Monday it was down 17-12 in the first set and that Western Kentucky also pushed his team at times in the previous round.

“We have been tested and challenged,” the UK coach said. “The comparison game to me is a slow painful death. All year long we have done a great job staying in the present. That is all we can do.”

Washington eliminated UK from the 2019 NCAA Tournament but Stumler was still able to go to the Final Four and watch the championship matches. She visualized what it would look like to be there with her team and now she is.

“It’s so rewarding to know this year that we are here. We deserve it,” Stumler said. “I used our losses (in NCAA play) as motivation. That’s very contagious. Our team does the same thing. A lot of our players really take our losses to heart.

“We have a big goal in mind. With this team you know what you are going to get every day and right now we are focused on Washington.”

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