ALLI( STUMLER) LINNEHAN
Alli( Stumler) Linnehan jumps for a kill against Texas A & M during a Southeastern Conference game during the 2020-21 season. Kentucky swept Texas A & M 3-0. Photo courtesy Grace Bradley | UK Athletics
By her senior year at CAI, Linnehan was one of the top volleyball players in the country.
She helped guide the Warriors to four straight sectional, regional and semistate titles in her four years. During the 2015-16 season, Christian Academy claimed the Class A state championship with a five-set victory over Lafayette Central Catholic.
“ There was a good run of volleyball in the program history,” Linnehan said.“ It was cool to be part of that. We won my sophomore year and that was awesome. The fan base that drove up to Ball State and the support we had from Christian Academy and surrounding communities was really fun and awesome to be part of. I was great full to be part of that.”
Linnehan set the state record for 34 kills in a state championship match. For her efforts on the court, she was named the NTSPY Girls’ Player of the Year for the 2015-16 school year.
“ It’ s really cool to do it with really awesome people,” Linnehan said of reminiscing on setting the record.“ I think we had such a unique team that year and lots of moving pieces that played a big role in that. I can’ t take credit for any of it as we had some awesome players that were very selfless and whatever role that was needed to fill that day, they were willing to do it. That makes a really special team when you have very selfless people and everybody showed up every day and willing to put in the work for the team.”
She signed her letter of intent when she was a sophomore in 2016 to play at the University of Kentucky. She finished her high-school career with 1,799 kills( an average of 4.7 per set and a 55.8 kill %), served up 240 aces, totaled 199 blocks and 1,202 digs in 381 sets played for the Warriors.
In Linnehan’ s junior season, the COVID-19 pandemic struck during the 2020-21 season. During that season the Wildcats won the Southeastern Conference tournament in the spring and then the NCAA tournament.
“ We really didn’ t know what we were competing for when season started,” Linnehan said.“ There were a ton of unknowns as everyone had that whole year and a lot of conferences decided not to compete in the fall, so they picked up after Christmas and played a couple of spring games. Then the NCAA Tournament was in April, which typically it’ s in December. It was a year-long season for us, which also added its quarks and challenges to get through. Especially when there were a lot of unknowns, you have to put all expectations behind you and just show up.”
Kentucky became the first SEC university to win a national championship in volleyball on April 24. The Wildcats defeated Texas 3-1( 20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22). Linnehan got the last point with a kill from the left side to help the Wildcats win the national championship for the first time.
“ It’ s every athlete’ s dream is to walk out and play under the bright lights and compete for championships,” Linnehan said.“ I wouldn’ t change anything for the world just grateful for that experience.”
For the Wildcats, she played in 118 matches with 410 sets and totaled 1,386 kills. She averaged 3.38 kills per set with 3,907 attempts.
In May 2021, Linnehan married Riley Linnehan to add to the latter’ s magical year. Two years later, Linnehan signed to play for the Atlanta Vibe, a team part of the new Pro Volleyball Federation. She played a year before hanging up her shoes.
Now, Alli Linnehan, 25, coaches volleyball with lessons and clinics on the side in the summer.
JAN / FEB 2026 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE NO. 11