1 Splash:2-Media Info.qxp.qxd - University of Kentucky Athletics

Sophomore Sarah Rumely was the SEC Freshman of the Year last year and
broke UK’s freshman assists record with 1,488.
Setter
Sophomore Sarah Rumely, the 2006 SEC
Freshman of the Year, returns at the starting setter
position after a record-setting first season at
UK. Rumely broke the school’s freshman record
for assists with 1,488 in her inaugural campaign
and ranks ninth all-time in UK annals.
A two-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection
last season, Rumely is one of the most experienced
and talented setters in the league despite
entering just her second year in the Bluegrass.
“Sarah obviously had a fantastic freshman
year and we look forward to her sophomore
campaign,” Skinner said. “She’s a very goal-oriented
and driven athlete, and someone who is
never satisfied. I know she is very excited to get
2007 underway.”
Freshman Laura Stokowski, who also will
spend time as a defensive specialist, backs up
Rumely at the setter position. She was named
to the Chicago Sun-Times Preseason Top 50
prior to the 2006 season and earned numerous
honors following her senior campaign. She also
has a vast amount of high-level club experience
as a member of Sport Performance.
“Laura will play both setter and defensive
specialist for us,” Skinner said. “She is someone
who has an extremely high volleyball IQ and
will fill her role very well. She has been training
as a setter for one of the best setting programs
in the country for the last six months and she’s
a great person in that position.”
Defensive Specialist/Libero
A pair of Kentucky veterans enter the
2007 season battling for the libero position.
There will be big shoes to fill in that position
after losing two-time SEC
Defensive Player of the
Year and the SEC’s alltime
digs leader Jenni
Casper to graduation.
Junior Alisa Pierce and
sophomore BriAnne Sauer
are the main competitors
looking to don the libero
jersey. Pierce has seen a
good amount of playing
time in each of her first two
seasons, ranking among the
squad’s leaders in digs.
Sauer got valuable experience
in her inaugural campaign,
ranking third on the
team with 2.29 digs per
game in limited action.
“We have a very exciting
group of defensive specialists
and the libero
position is up for grabs,”
Skinner said. “Two people
who are battling it out are
Alisa Pierce and BriAnne
Sauer. They both had a very good spring.
Kathleen Bowler also had a very good spring
for us. She made incredible improvements
from the previous year. The balance of Annmarie
Behr and Laura Stokowski coming in
makes this a young group that
keeps us at the top of the SEC
in terms of ball control and
defense at this position.”
Senior Kathleen Bowler has
been a leader on the squad in
terms of leadership and workethic
and has made big strides
during the off-season to
become a major competitor on
the court. Freshman Annmarie
Behr was a three-time All-Conference
selection in high school,
serving as team captain for two
seasons. The former three-sport
athlete brings the athleticism
that will help the Wildcats continue
their dominance of the
back row. Stokowski also will
be a strong contributor to the
Kentucky defensive effort.
Schedule
Three pre-conference tournaments,
including the annual
Kentucky Classic, and meetings
with seven teams who participated
in the 2006 NCAA Tournament
highlight the upcoming
Kentucky volleyball schedule,
which is always one of the
strongest in the nation.
“I think this is a great schedule for us,”
Skinner said. “We’ve got a great balance of
teams in the pre-conference schedule. I think
we’re going to be competing against some
teams that by the end of the year are going to
be some of the best teams in the country.”
The Wildcats will, for the second consecutive
year, play a home-and-home series with
each Southeastern Conference opponent in lieu
of a league tournament.
“The SEC is coming off a year in which
seven teams made the NCAA Tournament,”
Skinner said. “Just like last year, every night in
a double round-robin schedule has an impact
on the conference championship.”
Outlook
With the right mix of a strong schedule and
the balance that Skinner is looking for out of
his veterans and newcomers, the Wildcats
appear poised to soar beyond the success of the
past two seasons and continue their ascent
among the nation’s volleyball elite.
“We’re excited about where we’ve come in
two years as a staff,” Skinner said. “I think this
group of players bound and determined to take
this program to a level that we haven’t achieved
in a long time. This coaching staff is more
motivated than ever to take UK volleyball to
new heights.”
Junior Alisa Pierce is battling for UK’s libero position heading into the
2007 campaign.
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