UK VOLLEYBALL: Madison Lilley Chosen SEC Player of Year; Curry, Skinner Grab Major SEC Honors

Madison Lilley (No. 3) UK Athletics Photo

LEXINGTON, Ky. – UK senior Madison Lilley was named the 2020-21 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, senior Gabby Curry won SEC Libero of the Year, Craig Skinner was named Co-Coach of the Year and six Kentucky players were named to the All-SEC team, the conference office announced on Sunday afternoon.

In addition to Lilley and Curry winning Player and Libero of the Year, four other Wildcats were named to the All-Southeastern Conference Team, as Alli Stumler, Azhani Tealer, Avery Skinner and Madi Skinner were named all-conference.

Madison Lilley, SEC Player of the Year

• 11.9 assists per set

• 24 service aces

• 2.32 digs per set

• Seven-time SEC Setter of the Week

• Five-time SEC Player of the Week

Gabby Curry, SEC Libero of the Year

• Third-straight SEC Libero of the Year title

• 3.62 digs per set to lead all UK players

• Two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week

Alli Stumler, All-SEC

• SEC Offensive Player of the Week in the fall

• Led UK with 4.27 kills per set this season

• Also had 2.41 digs per set

Avery Skinner, All-SEC

• Registered 3.84 kills per set, and 4.04 against teams in the AVCA Top-50

• SEC Offensive Player of the Week in the fall

• 1.71 digs per set, as she played all six rotations

Madi Skinner, All-SEC and All-Freshman Team

• Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week

• Responsible for 2.52 kills per set

• Four matches this season with 10-plus kills

Azhani Tealer, All-SEC

• Transitioned to middle blocker this year

• SEC Defensive Player of the Week in the fall

• Hit a team-high .463 and averaged 1.33 blocks per set, which also led Kentucky.

Craig Skinner, SEC Co-Coach of the Year

• Fourth-straight SEC Championship

• Fourth SEC Coach of the Year title

• 16th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance by securing the SEC’s automatic qualifying spot

Player of the Year: Madison Lilley, Kentucky

Libero of the Year: Gabby Curry, Kentucky

Freshman of the Year: Taylor Head, Arkansas

Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jillian Gillen, Arkansas

Co-Coaches of the Year: Jason Watson, Arkansas

and Craig Skinner, Kentucky

* * *

Third-ranked Kentucky had recently won its fourth straight Southeastern Conference title. The four SEC titles is the first time since 2010 that an SEC team has won the volleyball championship in four consecutive seasons. Additionally, this adds to a program-record streak for UK, which prior to 2017-2021, the team's current run, had never won more than two SEC titles consecutively.

The Wildcats finished the 2020-2021 season with a 19-1 record in an all-SEC schedule and clinched the league's automatic qualifying spot into the 2020-21 NCAA D1 Volleyball Tournament. The 48-team field will be bubbled in Omaha, Nebraska for the duration of the tournament beginning on April 14 with the national champion crowned on April 24 at the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha.

The 2020-21 NCAA Volleyball Selection Show is Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU.