By LARRY VAUGHT

 

Kentucky junior setter Madison Lilley is in California with UK volleyball teammate Gabby Curry training with the U.S. national team that will play in the Pan-American Games in Peru during July and August.

Lilley had already put in a lot of work this spring to help get the USA training camp invite.

“We run and lift in the spring and we really don’t do that heavy of lifting in the fall. It’s a whole different experience in the spring. We bulk up in the spring and then in the fall we lift light and lean out,” Lilley said.

“It’s a lot more on the court stuff in the fall. In the spring we max out and get big. It’s kind of a trick of the trade. It’s interesting to see how different programs approach that.”

She also enjoys the summer weight workouts, including those with other UK teams.

“Summer is really competitive. We compete with other teams. It’s us, gymnastics, women’s basketball, softball, soccer all training together,” Lilley said. “That gets really competitive.

“In the spring it is just individual development and trying to get stronger. We all lift differently and have different strengths. But in the summer it really gets competitive working out with those other teams and it really pushes you. I love that.