Former UK Volleyball player Avery Skinner on USA National Team two weeks in a row

As a part of the 2020 national championship Kentucky Volleyball team, Avery Skinner has solidified her legacy in blue and white. In 2021, Skinner added to that legacy, moving on to Baylor’s green and gold for her graduate season.

Now two years post-college, Skinner is representing the red, white, and blue for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

The outside hitter is spending her second week in a row on the roster, alongside her sister, Madisen. Last week, the pair spent time in Rio de Janeiro for a four-game series. The national team went 2-2 on the weekend, dropping matches to China and Brazil, but defeating Thailand and the Dominican Republic.

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While Madisen isn’t in Arlington, Texas this weekend, Avery is spending her second week in a row with the team. Avery, a Katy, TX native, played alongside two other Texas natives (Middle blockers Chiaka Ogbogu and Asjia O’Neal) from Wednesday, May 28, through June 2.

During her time as a Wildcat, Skinner hit on a .268 clip with 821 kills. Skinner averaged 3.11 kills per set in 86 total matches. While also being a 2020 national champion, she helped UK win four straight SEC Championships. Skinner collected 46 double-digit kill performances with two double-doubles. She’s tied for third all-time in Kentucky history with four matches of at least 20 kills. Her career-high 22 kills came from a win over Tennessee in Oct. 2020.

Skinner’s father, Brian, was the 22nd overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Over 14 years, Brian played for 11 different teams and scored 2,876 points in 608 games. He added 2,841 rebounds and 532 blocks at 6-foot-9. Not only did Skinner get her height (6-foot-1) from her dad, but also her hardcore athleticism.

Soon, we might see Skinner grace our television screens in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as a part of the USA Volleyball team. If the Texas native continues to perform the way she has been, there’s a very good chance Skinner will make her Olympic team debut in the coming months.