Avery Skinner had nine kills in the final two sets to help UK reach the national title game. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky maybe didn’t need a miracle but it certainly needed some magic and senior Avery Skinner provided it. The Wildcats will play for the national championship Saturday night against Texas after turning back Washington in four sets (25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17) Friday night behind the clutch play of Skinner.
Kentucky blew a big lead in the second set and then found itself down 15-10 in set three before Skinner had five kills in a 9-1 surge to give UK the set. She also had three straight kills in the fourth set when UK turned a 10-9 lead into a 20-14 lead.
Overall, she finished with 19 kills on 46 swings with six errors. The senior was terrific early, struggled in the middle of the match and then shined when UK needed her most.
No one was happier than her sister, freshman Madi Skinner who had 13 kills of her own along with three blocks and two digs.
“I am going to be honest. I got a little teary-eyed (watching her sister),” Madi Skinner said. “I am her biggest fan. Seeing her go off on the court makes me so proud. I am so proud of her shining like that in that moment. It was so awesome and I am so proud of her.”
Junior Alli Stumler, who had 13 kills and 13 digs, said it was “awesome” to see what Avery Skinner did.
“She puts so much time and energy into this team. This year she has given her whole self to the team,” Stumler said. “She’s been battling injuries and gives herself to the team and it’s awesome to see her succeed. She is putting up huge numbers.”
Coach Craig Skinner knew his senior got put into a different role by Washington’s strategy.
“Not very many teams go after her serving like Washington did,” the UK coach said. “She actually passed okay and at the end was passing and hitting well. She struggled a little bit and went away from her strengths. She was phenomenal in the end. She produced and that’s hard to do when you go through a patch like that.”
The coach said his team’s seniors — Avery Skinner, Madison Lilley, and Gabby Curry — have a rare composure during matches that is “hard to teach” but is so valuable to a team.
Skinner said Washington put more pressure on UK’s defense with its serving than any team had all season.
“What a mentally resilient performance our team put on,” Craig Skinner said, noting the team’s “toughness” to rally to win the third set after blowing a big lead in set two. “We just had to continue to play the point and do it over and over. We were not serving tough. Their game plan was to make Madison dig to take her out of setting the second ball. We adjusted our strategy a little bit and adjusted our defense.”
Washington coach Keegan Cook credited Kentucky for “chasing us down in that third set” to regain control of the match.
“Their physicality is just impressive,” Cook said. “They are a physical group. @e defended well at the net but they also have great off-speed shots that make you make decisions. I just think they used their physicality in such a good way. It’s just a lot of pressure. Great teams make plays. They made plays.”
That’s why Kentucky now has a chance to win its first national championship Saturday night.
