UK VB star Madison Lilley named finalist for 2020 Honda Award

Kentucky senior setter Madison Lilley has been named a finalist for the 2020 Honda Award, a prestigious honor presented annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports to signify the “best of the best in collegiate athletics.” Lilley is one of three nominees for the sport of volleyball, joining Logan Eggleston of Texas and Dana Rettke of Wisconsin.

The winner of award will move on to become a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, along with the prestigious 2021 Honda Cup, which will be presented on CBS Sports Network on June 28 at 9 pm ET.

Lilley, Kentucky’s superstar setter who helped the Wildcats capture the program’s first NCAA national championship on Saturday with 53 assists and a career-high 19 digs, won the 2020 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year award, American Volleyball Coaches’ Association award, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.

During the tournament, Lilley averaged 13.8 assists per set, had six aces in UK’s five matches, and was second on the team with 3.35 digs per set. Lilley helped UK hit above .300 in all five matches in the Omaha bubble and put the cap on one of the most impressive individual seasons in NCAA Volleyball history.

Following the team’s title victory, Lilley announced she would not be returning to Kentucky for her final year of eligibility, opting to move on with her post-college professional endeavors.