First set loss motivated balanced Kentucky in national championship win

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Kentucky players react as soon as they got the final point to win the national title Saturday. (NCAA Photo)

Losing the first set did not seem the ideal way for Kentucky to open the national championship match against Texas Saturday night in Omaha. However, Kentucky coach Craig Skinner didn’t worry — and his team came back to win UK’s first national title by taking the next three sets.

“We get motivated for sure when teams don’t let us do the things we want,” Skinner said after the match.

Senior Madison Lilley, named the Final Four’s most outstanding player, said UK didn’t need any extra motivation or inspiration.

“We woke up this morning feeling like national champions. Nothing was going to stop us,” Lilley said.

The best thing for Kentucky — just as it has been all season — was its balance. Lilley might have been named the most outstanding player but the Cats had a lot of outstanding play in the final match.

— Junior Alli Stumler was sensational the whole tournament. She had 26 kills and only two errors on 51 swings to hit .471. She also had five digs, two service aces, and one block.

“She hit high hands better than any other game,” Lilley said. “She is a battler. She will lead this team amazingly next year.”

— Freshman Madi Skinner had 19 kills and hit .455.

“Incredible job. She had more hands in her face than she has had all year and produced and hit shots she has not hit before in matches,” Craig Skinner said. “She wanted the ball. She was confident and aggressive. That’s very hard to do as a freshman. She was big time.”

— Senior Avery Skinner, who also made the all-tourney team, had 14 kills, six digs, and four blocks.

— Senior libero Gabby Curry had 14 digs and 13 assists — and an abundance of hustle plays, including one where she crashed into the media table saving an errant ball for UK.

Lilley said Curry stayed after practice Saturday to work on second balls if Texas attacked Lilley on serves and shots like Washington did in the semifinal to try and limit Lilley’s setting. Curry had the assist on the final kill by Stumler that ended the match.

“Her work ethic is unbelievable. Having Gabby put up good second balls was crucial,” Lilley said.

— Azhani Tealer had eight kills, two digs and two blocks.

— Freshman Elise Goetzinger had three kills and three blocks but most of her points came at crucial times for UK.

— Lilley finished with 53 assists, 19 digs, and three blocks — a fitting end-to-end four-time All-American career at UK.

Stumler said everyone on the team contributes in some way and that’s why the celebration after the final point involved every player. She said the best part was just “hugging all of the team” after winning.

“It’s not just the six of us (on the court) huddling and celebrating. We celebrate together as a whole team,” Stumler said. “We are here with the staff and all the other players who give tirelessly to make us all better. We were just celebrating the whole program. So many have given to what it is. It’s so stinking awesome.”

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