LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The American Volleyball Coaches Association named University of Kentucky outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye its South Region Player of the Year, Wildcats' head coach Craig Skinner its South Region Coach of the Year and University of Louisville setter Nayellis Cabello its South Region Freshman of the Year. 

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky schools won big in the 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Association awards 

  • Wildcats outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye was named South Region Player of the Year, UK head coach Craig Skinner was named South Region Coach of the Year and UofL setter Nayellis Cabello was named South Region Freshman of the Year 

  • DeLeye was also joined by eight players from Kentucky schools on the AVCA All-South Region Team

  • Both Louisville and Kentucky have advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and play Thursday, Dec. 12 

This is the latest accolade for DeLeye after being named the 2023 AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year and the 2024 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. A native of Topeka, Kansas, DeLeye has logged 487 kills on the season and is hitting .288. She's coming off a 22-kill performance in the Wildcats' 3-1 win over No. 15 Minnesota Dec. 6 that helped send the team to the NCAA Regional Semifinals. 

Skinner is now a three-time AVCA Coach of the Year after winning the award in 2011 and during the Wildcats' NCAA Championship run in 2020. He recently won his 300th SEC match, a 3-1 defeat of Missouri Nov. 27, as the Wildcats clinched their eighth straight SEC title under his leadership. He has guided Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament in all 20 of his seasons in Lexington and advanced to his 10th NCAA Regional Semifinal after their win over Minnesota. 

Cabello, a Florida native, has 589 assists on the season. Her season high came in a 3-0 sweep of Northern Kentucky Sept. 8, when she logged 33. She was named Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Week six times this season. 

DeLeye was also joined by eight other players from Kentucky schools on the AVCA All-South Region Team. They include: 

  • Callie Bauer, Western Kentucky
  • Cara Cresse, Louisville
  • Anna DeBeer, Louisville
  • Emma Grome, Kentucky
  • Charitie Luper, Louisville
  • Elena Scott, Louisville
  • Molly Tuozzo, Kentucky 

Honorable mentions from Kentucky-based schools included Brooke Bultema (UK), Reese Robins (UofL) and Izzy Van De Wiele (WKU). 

Both Louisville and Kentucky have advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The No. 1-seeded Cardinals face Purdue Thursday, Dec. 12 at Freedom Hall in Louisville; should they win, they'll play Saturday, Dec. 14 for the right to go to the Final Four. No. 3-seeded Kentucky faces Missouri Thursday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. and would play Saturday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. with a win. 

The NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four and National Championship take place Thursday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec. 22 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. 

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