Complete performance from Kentucky VB extends win streak to six
The longest win streak of the year for No. 19 Kentucky volleyball continues to grow. A 3-1 home victory over Ole Miss on Wednesday night had the team and head coach Craig Skinner in good spirits after the game.
“I didn’t question the locker room this year at all. We’ve run through some rough patches and result-wise that’s always going to challenge you and push you to see what you’re made of. We’ve responded the right way, losing the first one in the league and then putting on a few wins in a row built some confidence,” Coach Skinner said after the game about the confidence within this team during the six-match run.
With the win, Kentucky moves to 11-5 (6-1) on the year and remains at the top of the SEC.
No love lost
Everyone was getting in on the action to open the match. Azhani Tealer got the first kill in the game and snagged a total of four in the opening set. Haley Melby made an instant impact after she checked in, making a heads-up kill that put the Wildcats up 10-2 in the opening set.
Eleanor Beavin was all over the place, including a play where her outstretched arm dug out an attempted Ole Miss kill and the ‘Cats won the point, putting them up 21-9. Beavin finished the first with five digs and Tealer’s kill then won the set for Kentucky 25-15.
Although Kentucky dropped the second set, the deficit that they erased was exceptional.
Down 21-13, the Wildcats caught fire going on an 8-1 run to tie the affair at 22. Tealer went nuclear during this run, smashing home three kills.
The Wildcats saved two set points before taking a 26-25 lead of their own, but it didn’t last. Ole Miss took the second set 28-26 and the match was tied 1-1.
Enough is enough, business time
SEC Setter of the Week Emma Grome was serving up a storm in the third set. Ole Miss unraveled after Bella Bell’s block hit off her face and she won Kentucky a point putting the ‘Cats up 11-6.
Audrey Whitworth must have been jealous of Grome’s aces and added one of her own giving the Wildcats a 17-9 lead.
Adanna Rollins checked into the game for the first time in the third set. This was Rollins’ first game of action after returning from a concussion that had her sidelined for the past week. Rollins got to work late in the set with a crucial block and the set-winning kill that gave UK a 2-1 lead in the match.
Coach Skinner was uncertain when asked if he would’ve brought Rollins in if Kentucky wasn’t tied 1-1 after two sets.
“I don’t know. They’re usually game-time, moment-by-moment decisions,” Skinner said. “Obviously she’s got a great arm and we need to terminate some balls out of system and she gave us some of those swings. She’s a little bit rusty, but (Rollins) knows that but she’s going to come back and get ready as we go forward for the next couple weeks.”
Kentucky didn’t lose a beat in the fourth set. Bell’s kill gave the ‘Cats a 15-9 commanding lead. The Rebels tried threatening, cutting the lead to 18-14. Erin Lamb added two kills late and Rollins had another set-winning kill as Kentucky won the fourth set 25-20.
Rest up, but hopefully the fire doesn’t cool off
It’s a long 10-day stretch until the Wildcats are in action again.
With no weekend game, Kentucky looks ahead to a series next weekend on the road against Texas A&M. The Aggies are trending in the opposite direction, losing their last five.
It’s not the time to cool off for Kentucky volleyball, but I guess you could say here comes the not-so-much-needed bye week.
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