Former University of Illinois-Chicago setter Kaleigh Skopal has left the program and found a new destination in transferring down to North Texas – which ironically sends her south. Skopall will be a true sophomore in 2018 with three years left of play and is set to be immediately eligible for the fall.
A 5’11” setter, Skopal played just one season with the Flames and notched 555 assists (5.34 per set), 143 digs (1.38 per set) and 28 aces (0.27 per set) to just 40 serve errors. As part of a team that went 17-13, she was second on the team in both assists and aces in the team’s 6-2 system.
Prior to her time with UIC, the Texas native prepped at Rouse High School where she was a three-year letter-winner. As a senior she was named the district’s setter of the year and was also recognized on the Under Armour All-America Honorable Mention list.
“She provides a lot of depth at the setter position not only for this year, but for the future,” North Texas head coach Andrew Palileo said in the team’s release of the addition.
It’s not the only transfer addition for North Texas this year either, as they are also bringing on former Rutgers outside hitter Jillian Duffin. The two will look to establish a setter-hitter connection as they try to continue the recent success that the Mean Green have undergone.
That recent success was highlighted with a 29-4 season in 2017 in which they went 13-1 in Conference USA to earn a share of the title and won a postseason match in the NIVC. The team returns just six letter-winners though in 2018. One of those is starting setter Karley York, as Skopal adds depth this year then would likely compete for the starting role with freshman Kylie Brown in 2019.
my first year at UIC was one for the books, met some of my best friends and I will forever be thankful for the experience I had here. with that being said I have decided to come closer to home & I will be continuing academic and athletic career at the University of North Texas!💚 pic.twitter.com/ZV4GoheGYb
— Kaliegh Skopal (@kmskopal) May 1, 2018
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