The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 8 Volleyball pair named to AVCA National Player of the Year watch list
09.20.2024 | Volleyball
Madisen Skinner and Reagan Rutherford recognized among 36 of the best players in the country.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 8 Texas Volleyball's duo of Reagan Rutherford and Madisen Skinner were named to the AVCA Division I National Player of the Year watch list, the organization announced Friday.
The Longhorn pair are recognized among 36 players from 21 schools on the inaugural watch list. The list will be narrowed down in November, and the committee can add players not from the original group of 36 to the November list.
The last step is revealing the names of the finalists, which will be released before the AVCA Convention. Then, the 2024 AVCA Player of the Year will be announced on Friday, Dec. 20, in Louisville, KY, during the Convention.
Skinner is a three-time National Champion and the 2023 VolleyballMag.com National Player of the Year. Last season, Skinner ranked sixth nationally with 4.80 kills per set and seventh with 547 total kills. Her 547 kills were the third-most ever by a Longhorn player and the most since Mira Topic (593) in 2004. Skinner stepped up her play in the postseason, averaging 5.43 kills per set with a .316 hitting percentage and was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Rutherford played four seasons at Kentucky from 2020-23 and was a member of the National Championship winning team as a freshman. She played in 92 career matches, recording 918 kills with an average of 3.0 kills per set. She also added 252 total blocks and 41 service aces. During her sophomore and junior seasons in 2022 and 2023, she was named an AVCA Third Team All-American. Rutherford had an outstanding 2022 season with career highs of 386 kills, 95 total blocks and 29 service aces.
