Kassie O’Brien is One of Best Freshmen in the Nation

Kassie O'Brien (Vicky Graff Photo)

Freshman setter Kassie O’Brien has emerged not only as one of the Southeastern Conference’s best newcomers but as one of the best players overall in the conference.

“I am super proud of Kassie. I remember Emma Grome as a freshman and the pressure she felt living up to Madison Lilley (the national player of the year on UK’s national championship team) and the expectations on her,” Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said. “The great thing is that Kassie does not let what happened yesterday affect today.

“She continues to do great things but also recognizes things she needs to improve on. To have the humility to do that is special.”

O’Brien has been collecting SEC honors weekly but Skinner says that has not changed her, either.

“You certainly don’t plan for SEC awards. She would be the first to say if the team was not successful she would not get awards,” Skinner said. “A lot of people have had good games and she understands that. Kassie’s belief, and our whole team’s belief, is to attack teams on all sides of the net and Kassie is great at doing that.”

Chris Shoals, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications and Public Relations for UK volleyball and softball, believes not only is SEC Freshman of the Year going to be either O’Brien or Cari Spears of Texas but thinks they should also be the two frontrunners for National Freshman of the Year.

“Kassie was inserted in a relatively difficult spot at Penn State in the second set after we won the first set. Penn State was celebrating a national championship and Kassie goes in and lights the place on fire,” Shoals said. “She has gotten so much better.

“It’s hard to quantify the leaps and bounds she has taken in connections with her hitters. She has done some things that are incredibly mature for her age and she has grown so much in a short amount of time. I thought her best match all year was against Vanderbilt and then she goes to Texas and was so good in a sweep. She’s going to be one of the best players in the country when it is all said and done.”