by LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky volleyball lost several players off last year’s team that lost to Texas A&M in the national championship game but coach Craig Skinner also retained his star players — something that is not guaranteed in today’s college athletics world.
All-American Brooklyn DeLeye, one of the nation’s best players, returned for her senior season. So did Lizzie Carr, a transfer from Purdue last year who can give UK a dominating presence in the middle.
“I think they’re very competitive and very loyal people at the same time, and very giving of themselves to something bigger than just a game,” Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said. “If it was just wins and losses or external factors, and maybe they don’t (come back). It’s internal for them, and who they believe in, and what they believe in, and what’s going to set them up for success in the future.
“Always appreciated their ability to make people around them better. That takes a lot and it gives us a lot of joy to see people like that excel at the highest level.”
DeLeye and Carr can also help set the tone for UK’s new players. Two freshmen — Bellamie Beus and Sidney Burley — are already on campus. Burley is a 5-foot-8 defensive specialist from Minnesota while Beus is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Idaho.
Skinner says both do a lot of things well and have athletic ability.
“Experience-wise, they have a long way to go,” Skinner said. “They have the potential to do some great things. They know what it feels like to be here. You have no idea what it feels like when you’re in club or high school (volleyball). Now the effort comes in the summer to prepare themselves for August.”
Again Kentucky will face a loaded non-conference schedule with matches already announced against Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, UCLA, Penn State, North Carolina, SMU and Purdue.
