Alli Stumler says even with the losses UK had the Cats know teams will want to beat the defending national champion this season. (UK Athletics Photo)
Senior Alli Stumler understands as four-time defending Southeastern Conference champion and now defending national champion that the Kentucky volleyball team is going to have a big target on it this season. The Cats also lost three All-Americans — national player of the year Madison Lilley, Gabby Curry, and Avery Skinner — off the national championship team.
“Every year you have to find the right chemistry,” Stumler said. “Every year we bring in new players and work to find out what that team might be like in the fall. During the summer we hang out as much as we can off the court so we are ready to go when we step on the court.”
Kentucky begins practice this week and opens the season with an exhibition match August 19 at Western Kentucky and then begins regular-season play with three games in the Dayton (Ohio) Tournament Aug. 27-28. The Cats are hosting Fan Day Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum.
“We did lose some pieces of the puzzle we have been building for a while. A lot of players need to step up and they already have,” Stumler, who also earned All-America honors last season, said. “People know their roles might be different than last year and they have to step into that new role and take it.
Stumler said the UK volleyball culture is the point where it is “expected” that players step into whatever role they are put in and perform.
“I think we have great incoming freshmen and players I think are ready to take on new roles,” Stumler said. “We will be totally fine and I am excited to see what this team can bring. We are excited for the challenge coming up.”
