The first Olympics appearance of Avery Skinner’s career was a memorable one. As well as a successful debut.

Skinner, the first former Kentucky volleyball player to ever compete in the Olympic Games, won silver with Team USA on Sunday in Paris. The U.S. lost to Italy, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17, in the championship match. Skinner finished the gold-medal match with seven points on a team-leading 22 attacks.

Starring as an outside hitter for the Wildcats from 2017 to 2021, Skinner was a key cog for UK’s national title-winning squad in 2020, which was held in 2021 after the coronavirus pandemic delayed NCAA championship events in fall sports to the spring.

She won SEC championships all four seasons at Kentucky, earning first-team All-America laurels from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) during her senior season after hitting .366 with 3.77 kills per set. She also was an All-SEC and AVCA Southeast All-Region selection that season. In her maiden campaign with the Wildcats in 2017, Skinner landed on the SEC All-Freshman Team after notching 363 kills, averaging 3.32 kills per set.

A native of Katy, Texas, the 6-foot-1 Skinner comes from a family of athletes.

Her father, Brian Skinner, spent 14 seasons in the NBA. Skinner’s younger sister, Madi Skinner, was part of Kentucky’s volleyball program for two seasons — including winning the NCAA championship with Avery in 2020 — before transferring to Texas.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

BATH COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – There are countless small towns out there that have something that makes them special, and for Bath County, Kentucky, there’s a piece that leaves researchers stumped, and it sets the county apart from the rest.

Bath county, specifically Olympia Springs, is the home of the Kentucky meat shower.

“On March 3rd of 1876, Mrs. Rebecca Crouch was outside with her grandson, and out of the clear blue sky, meat started to rain down,” said Bath County History Museum Curator Brent Frizzell.

“They gathered up what was remaining and they say it was a horse wagon full, and I think everyone knows what that means, and I think people in the area ate it,” said Transylvania University Professor of Art Kurt Gohde.

A slice of the meat was saved from the phenomenon and has been under the care of Transylvania University.

On Saturday, the Bath County History Museum got to return this sliver back to its original meat locker.

“A lot of people left impressed and enjoyed very interesting stories that actually came from other people who had relatives or descendants of people that visited or saw it back when it happened,” Frizzell said.

Godhe explains some of the theories researchers have on what kind of meat it is and how it got there.

“An interesting one includes a weather pattern where winds will pick up small fish and frogs and I think its called an up spout, and then they lay them down in another place. For me, the vulture vomit theory is the only one that feels possible,” Godhe said.

Godhe added while the studying and DNA testing of the meat have been inconclusive, it’s been fleshing out the speculation.

“Just to be in a space where everyone who walks through the door knows the story and many of them feel like a personal connection to the story, is an incredible experience,” said Godhe.

Although the sample is back at Transylvania University, Frizzell said they are already planning to host more events where people can come and view it in person.

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Just over a week ago, Big Blue Nation found out that one of Kentucky WBB’s newest additions, Jordan Obi, was out indefinitely due to injury. While the specific injury wasn’t disclosed, it involves the lower leg, and Obi started rehab recently. Along with Obi, Dominika Paurová also sustained a lower leg injury in the offseason.

Not the start we wanted for the ‘Cats, but luckily, Obi has been paying very close attention to her team’s practices.

“Honestly, it’s been really cool watching everyone come together. Obviously everyone’s new to each other… but just being here and getting to learn,” Obi said on media day.

“I’ve never been injured,” she added. “This is uncharted territory for me. I think it’ll give me the ability to grow in mental fortitude. Obviously seeing the game from a different perspective, like the X’s and O’s part of it. I’ve always been in it, so now watching it is just different. I think I’ll be better for it.”

Obi transferred from Penn this past summer, using her fifth year of eligibility to compete for the ‘Cats. While Obi would be eligible for a medical redshirt, it doesn’t sound like that’s even a possibility in her mind. Obi said her recovery is still “up in the air.” She’s taking it day by day, but she’d love to get back on the court as soon as possible.

“I came here to be coached by Coach Brooks,” Obi said. “Being coached by him is an experience that is unlike… I came from the Ivy League, so it’s just super different.”

“The conditioning part is a notable jump, just the details, the little details. Buy yeah, again getting to play with the best, getting to be coached with the best. Being in the SEC, it’s super cool and not something that I really would’ve expected for my career. I’m super happy to be here.”

Here’s hoping the 2023-24 All-Ivy First Teamer makes it back to the hardwood sooner rather than later.

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