The University of Kentucky volleyball program’s recruiting class was named the No. 5 class by PrepVolleyball, marking the highest ranked recruiting class in program history. The group is UK’s eighth top-20 class under the guidance of head coach Craig Skinner.
“It’s good recognition for our program,” head coach Craig Skinner said. “Having a top-five class along with our third-straight top-10 class gives us a lot of momentum for the future of this program and the Southeastern Conference in general. Lindsey (Gray-Walton) spearheads our recruiting efforts and does a great job of plotting our recruiting energies down the right paths. Our league continues to get stronger and stronger each year and we need to do all we can to be at the forefront.”
All four signees are top-100 recruits, led by No. 4 Madison Lilley. Avery Skinner is the No. 32 ranked recruit, Gabby Curry is No. 46 and Kendyl Paris is No. 81. Lilley, Skinner and Paris will join the team in the summer while Curry enrolled early and played in the Wildcats’ spring season. All four are AVCA Under Armor High School All-Americans. The signees have all won at high levels, including four state championships, two all-state selections, a state player of the year and two Team USA members.
Since Skinner’s arrival, the Wildcats have hauled in 11 classes rated in the top 30 of PrepVolleyball’s rankings, including his very first class in 2006 which came in at No. 26.
In all, Kentucky has recruited 14 players who have garnered 20 All-America accolades during their careers. Players from these classes have notched 28 All-SEC distinctions and at least one member of every freshman class has earned an All-SEC Freshman team nod during Skinner’s tenure, with Leah Edmond winning SEC Freshman of the Year last season.
Kentucky will open the regular season Aug. 25 for a matchup at Memorial Coliseum with Arkansas State. UK will play an exhibition at home on Aug. 16 against in-state foe Western Kentucky.
‑ GO CATS –
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Mike Scholze
