Kentucky assistant coach Madison Lilley talks with junior setter Emily Grome. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Madison Lilley was a four-time All-American at Kentucky and not only was part of four Southeastern Conference championship teams but also led UK to the school’s first national championship her senior year when she had 53 assists and 19 digs in the four-set win over Texas in the final.
She was named the 2020 NCAA Division I Player of the Year after being named the most outstanding player in the NCAA Tournament. She also became the first volleyball player to ever be named the SEC Female Athlete of the Year.
Lilley, the No. 4 ranked recruit after her prep career in Kansas, played two years professionally before joining coach Craig Skinner’s staff at Kentucky this season.
Kentucky is on a 16-match win streak going into tonight’s 7:30 p.m. first-round NCAA Tournament matchup with Wofford and will play the James Madison-Baylor winner Friday night if it wins.
Lilley shared her thoughts on several things about this team after UK clinched its seventh straight SEC title Saturday with a sweep of Florida.
Question: How does coaching a SEC champion compare with playing and being a SEC champion?
Lilley: “It never gets old. Winning never gets old no matter what. I think it is even more important because you see all the behind the scenes work and all the hours that everyone puts into it, especially the coaches and administration. It is special to be on this side of it.”
Question: When this team was 3-7, something you never experienced when you played here, did you wonder what you may have gotten yourself into this season?
Lilley: “At that point I didn’t know what we were supposed to feel like as a coach. I knew it was supposed to be challenging but we were tested and found our identity then. The competitive energy never fails, which I think is special about this group. We are not lacking in the competitive department which is always fun to coach. This is a fun group.”
Question: Does this group have a chance to win a national title like you did because UK will not be one of the teams everyone is talking about as a title contender?
Lilley: “Of course we have a chance. No one thought we had a chance my senior year. Everyone thought we were the underdogs. No one wanted Kentucky to win or thought we could. That is the beauty of this. We have the chance to prove so many people wrong. I think that is what fires up this group. That is what fired me up as a player. Just adding to the fire of why we are so excited to come on the mat and put Kentucky volleyball on the map and prove that we can repeat. This group is talking about it just like we did my senior year. These seniors helped us to win the title in 2020 and no doubt they are excited to do the same thing this year.”
Question: Are you as calm on the bench during matches as you look?
Lilley: “I think being even keeled has a lot of value to it so that is what I always try to portray. I appreciate that about (coach) Craig (Skinner) as a player and working with him it is a beneficial characteristic to have. I am trying to stay that way even though I think that is my nature anyway.”
