Setter Kassie O'Brien (6) became the first UK player to be named national freshman of the year. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Freshman setter Kassie O’Brien’s play helped solidify UK’s run to the team’s first Final Four berth and championship game appearance in five years and only the second Final Four berth in school history. She did not open the season as the starting setter but earned that position four matches into the season.
“I did have a lot of expectations for myself and getting that starting spot was a big one. All the awards and accolades I got were just props to my teammates. I couldn’t have done any of this without them. They were there pushing me along the way,” O’Brien said. “The coaching staff is just amazing. Every day when I got to the gym, I just wanted to get one percent better so I could be better for the team.”
O’Brien not only was named the SEC Freshman of the Year but was also the national freshman of the year in voting by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She became the first Kentucky player ever to be named national freshman of the year.
O’Brien’s confidence grew as the season progressed. Associate coach Kyle Luongo encouraged her to not try to do so many things and instead concentrate on being great on the things she would do.
“I think each game just unlocked a little bit more of me. It’s cool having (All-Americans) Eva (Hudson) and Brooklyn (DeLeye) around me along with all these girls that have the same energy because I want to be the same way. When I see Eva out there screaming and yelling, I want to do the same things,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien had 54 assists in UK’s national semifinal comeback win over Wisconsin and was at her best in the final two sets of the five-set win.
“Kassie was on the run a lot tonight. She had to run down a lot of serve-receive balls,” coach Craig Skinner said after the win. “She was pretty tired throughout the match. For her to keep her composure and execute in the fifth set again says a lot about her resiliency. Nothing really fazes her.”
