NCAA Volleyball notebook: Devyn Robinson named to all-tournament team, Kentucky beats Texas for national title

On Saturday night the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Texas Longhorns 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22) in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament finals. It was UK’s first volleyball national title and the end of a dominant season for the Cats, who ended the year 24-1 while collecting the SEC Title along with the NCAA Title. Kentucky’s only loss of the year was to Florida (in five sets) and they lost a mere two sets in five Tournament matches.

Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Kentucky setter Madison Lilley, who also was named the national player of the year, was picked as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 53 assists against the Longhorns. While Texas will undoubtedly be disappointed by the result, they only have one senior on their roster and will be one of the favorites to make it back to the finals next year.

Lilley, obviously, was named to the All-Tournament team along with teammates Alli Stumler and Avery Skinner. Texas had two representatives, who Wisconsin fans probably remember, in Brionne Butler and Logan Eggleston while Washington had Samantha Drechsel make the team.

The most important member of the team, in this blog’s humble opinion, is true freshman Devyn Robinson of the Big Ten champion Wisconsin Badgers. Robinson had 41 kills and eight errors on 78 attacks which gave her a hitting percentage of .423 for the four matches in the Tournament. Of players who played double digit sets in the Tournament, Robinson was No. 3 in hitting percentage. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter added three digs and 19 blocks for good measure.

Depending on which players decide to return for their bonus COVID season next year, Robinson could be one of the top players returning in the entire Big Ten. We are, quite frankly, very excited to see what she has in store next season.