2005 Season Preview - University of Kentucky Athletics

K e n t u c k y V o l l e y b a l l
#1 • Melissa Popp
Junior • 2VL • 5-11 • Outside Hitter • Indianapolis, Ind. • Bishop Chatard HS • Club Team: Circle City • Major: Biology
Career Highs
Kills: 21, Four times
Attacks: 52, vs. Tennessee
(11/7/03)
Hit %: .500, vs. Tennessee
(10/29/04)
Aces: 5, vs. Iowa (9/6/03)
Blocks: 4, Twice -
Last vs. South Carolina (10/8/03)
Digs: 16, Twice -
Last vs. South Carolina (10/1/04)
2004 Highs
Kills: 11, Twice - Last vs. LSU
(10/24)
Attacks: 37, vs. South Carolina (10/1)
Hit %: .500, vs. Tennessee (10/29)
Aces: 2, Twice - Last vs. Arkansas
(10/22)
Blocks: 3, vs. Auburn (9/26)
Digs: 16, vs. South Carolina
(10/1)
Why Kentucky?
“On October 27, 2002, I sat in the stands in
Memorial Colesium and watched as the Kentucky
volleyball team defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in a
close five-game match. Despite what was happening
on the court, the best part, for me, was what was
going on in the stands. The fans were amazing. Students
were cheering and getting rowdy over the littlest
plays, parents were starting all the cheers, and
most importantly the team seemed to be playing for
not only themselves, but for the pride of all Kentucky
athletics. I knew then, that there was no other place
for me. Kentucky would be home and I would make
it my job to continue the UK tradition and make our
fans proud.”
Coach Skinner on Popp:
"Melissa is extremely excited to get back on the
court healthy again. She will be an integral part of
what we do this season. Melissa sees the game at a very
high level which enables her to do things on the court
which others can't."
2004 – Played in just 14 matches and 36 games due
to reccuring shoulder problems ... Had a season-high 11
kills on two occassions, including a .417 hitting performance
against Auburn at home ... Followed with eight
kills and a career-best 16 digs at South Carolina ... Played
her last match of the year against No. 16 Tennessee on
Oct. 29, recording six kills on .500 hitting - a career best.
2003 – Was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team
... Played in all 32 matches as a freshman, totaling 120
games ... Was third on the team in kills (369), second in
assists per game (0.52) and third in points (426.5) ...
Was named to the Kentucky Conference Challenge All-
Tournament team after totaling 40 kills and 30 digs in
the three-match event ... Had a season-high 21 kills on
four occasions ... Had a career-best 16 digs against SMU
... Totaled 21 kills on .405 hitting against Mississippi
State ... Had double-figure digs 13 times ... Had 11 double-doubles
as a freshman ... Scored a season-best 26.5
points for UK in the win over LSU in Lexington ...
Underwent offseason shoulder surgery.
High School – A four-year varsity letter winner and
two-year co-captain for Bishop Chatard … Was named
the 2003 City Athlete of the Year for all sports by the
Indianapolis Star after leading the Trojans to a 34-3
record … Also was named the 2001 and 2002 City Volleyball
Player of the Year by the Star … Named firstteam
All-State and All-City in 2000, 2001 and 2002 …
Was named to the first-team of the area Super Team in
2001 and 2002 and was named Player of the Year for
the team in 2002 … Earned 2002 North Suburban
Player of the Year honors and to the 2001 and 2002
Indiana South All-Star teams … Also earned three varsity
letters in basketball and was twice named All-City
in both the media and coaches' poll … Led the Indianapolis
metro area in scoring and rebounding as a
junior and a senior … Was a four-year varsity letterwinner
in track as well … Her high school coach was Jill
Starliper, who played high school volleyball under UK
coach Jona Braden … Played club volleyball at Circle
City for Coach Mark Britner.
Personal – Full name is Melissa Blair Popp ... Daughter
of Rich and Betty Popp … Born March 22, 1985 in
Billings, Mont. … Has a younger sister, Whitney (18)
and a younger brother, Drew (17) ... Has been named to
the dean’s list twice at UK.
Popp’s Career Stats
Year GP-MP K E TA HIT% KPG AST APG BHE SA SE RE DIG DPG BS BA TB BPG
2003 120-32 369 197 984 .175 3.08 63 0.52 4 36 0.30 26 249 2.08 2 39 41 0.34
2004 36-14 49 31 182 .099 1.36 8 0.22 0 4 0.11 6 63 1.75 0 11 11 0.31
Totals 156-46 418 228 1166 .163 2.68 71 0.46 4 40 0.26 32 312 2.00 2 50 52 0.33
56 Kentucky Volleyball Fall 2005