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
#7 Kristen Cunningham
Sophomore • 1VL • 6-0 • Middle Blocker • Fairfax Station, Va. • Robinson Secondary School • Club Team: Wilson Metro Virginia • Major: Marketing
2004 Highs
Kills: 8, Twice - Last vs. American
(11/27)
Attacks: 19, vs. Alabama (9/24)
Hit %: .667, vs. East Tennessee St.
(9/17)
Aces: 1, vs. Eastern Kentucky (9/1)
Blocks: 9, vs. Middle Tennessee St.
(9/4)
Digs: 3, vs. Mississippi St. (10/15)
Why Kentucky?
“Why Kentucky? The question should be correctly
stated as ‘Why anywhere else?’ Kentucky has
it all—the people, the excitement, the atmosphere,
the history. From its strong academic base to its
prestigious, nationally acclaimed academics program,
UK meets and exceeds the expectations and
standards of a Class A university. Being able to be
a part of Kentucky Volleyball and to contribute to
such a divine school was an opportunity I just
couldn’t give up.”
Coach Skinner on Cunningham:
“Kristen is our most fundamentally
sound blocker at the middle position. Her
blocking will allow our defense to go to
another level. She also has a tremendous
work ethic which help her reach new levels
each season.”
2004 – Played in 29 of UK’s 30 matches
as a freshman, totaling 109 games ... Led
the team in blocking with a 0.94 per game
average ... Had 23 blocks in three matches
early in the year ... recorded a season-high
nine blocks against Middle Tennessee ...
Posted a season-best eight kills on two occassions
and had her best hitting performance
against East Tennessee State with a .667
mark ... Had three solo blocks and two block
assists in the season finale against American
... Also added eight kills on .412 hitting in
the closer.
High School – Played just two years of
high school volleyball after a standout career
as a basketball player and swimmer …
Helped guide her team to the Final Four of
the state championships in 2003, earning alldistrict
and all-region tournament honors …
Was the leading blocker for Robinson and
becomes the first volleyball athlete from her
school to earn a Division I scholarship …
Earned the Team Spirit Award and was a
four-year scholar athlete … Was heavily
involved in the student marketing association
and taught swimming to youngsters in
the summer … Played high school volleyball
under coach Jill Pearson and club volleyball at Metro
Virginia under coach Brian Whitney.
Personal – Full Name is Kristen Anne Cunningham
… Daughter of Rob and Linda Cunningham … Born
July 2, 1986 in Fairfax, Va. … Has one brother Cliff (24)
and one sister Cara (9) … Her mother, Linda, was an All-
American diver at the University of Texas … Her father,
Rob, was a part of the Texas basketball team which
claimed the 1978 NIT Championship … Grandfather
Bob was captain and starting guard for the 1957 NCAA
Champion North Carolina Tar Heels … Grandmother
Minna Hamner is a former Olympic swimmer … Pete
Hamner, Kristen’s uncle, was a pitcher for the New York
Mets ... Has been named to the Dean’s list once at UK.
Cunningham’s Career Stats
Year GP-MP K E TA HIT% KPG AST APG BHE SA SE RE DIG DPG BS BA TB BPG
2004 109-29 85 48 272 .136 0.78 5 0.05 3 1 3 2 18 0.17 8 94 102 0.94
58 Kentucky Volleyball Fall 2005