By LARRY VAUGHT
Madison Lilley admits her first year at Kentucky she really didn’t know what All-American players were and just kind of thinking it was “pretty cool” when coach Craig Skinner called after her freshman season to let her know she was a second-team All-American.
Now the senior setter is “pumped” to earn a first-team honor after being second team the last three seasons.
“That’s something I do want and I am chasing that,” Lilley said. “But I also want to keep being a really good teammate off the court. I pride myself in my play on the court but in college it’s also about creating relationships that will last a lifetime and that’s something I never thought of until I got here.
“That thought plays a huge role in everything I do now. I reach out to teammates more on and off the court. My mindset has really grown in three years in that aspect. Mentally and physically I have grown into being a great person, student and leader thanks to Craig.”
No matter what kind of statistics Lilley has during a match — and they are usually very good — it seems that Skinner is always wanting more. The coach normally will spend more time telling you what she could have done better than bragging on what she did.
However, that suits Lilley because she wants Skinner to push her. She knows Skinner knows better than anyone else what she needs to fine tune in her game to make her a better player and Kentucky a better team.
“We have setter training and Craig is pretty hands on. He more than anyone sees what I can fine tune and do better. I never want Craig to think something I did was just unbelievable. You want positive feedback but I want him to push me about small things I can work on,” the UK senior said. “Craig loves fundamentals and after being exposed to Craig and all that knowledge I am so much more than just a setter now.”
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