DeLeye, Goetzinger Lead 8-Seeded Kentucky Past Wofford, Into Round of 32

Despite it being just the first NCAA Tournament match of her Wildcat career, Kentucky freshman Brooklyn DeLeye totaled a game-high 13 kills and only two errors to lead 8-seeded Kentucky past Wofford in straight sets Thursday night (25-17, 25-15, 25-16) to advance into the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32. 

The Kentucky offense has been a major storyline throughout the Cats’ current 17-match winning streak, and that trend continued against the Terriers. Setter Emma Grome dished out 38 assists and directed the Cats to 49 total kills and just 10 errors. Kentucky hit .390 as a team and saw five Wildcats record six or more kills. 

Aside from the 13 kills off the arm of DeLeye, Elise Goetzinger was the other Wildcat to eclipse double figures on the evening, as she finished with 12 terminations on a sweltering .524 clip. Reagan Rutherford added 8 kills of her own, Erin Lamb and Azhani Tealer each had six, and Jordyn Williams totaled 3 after being inserted into the match in the third frame.

Defensively, junior libero Eleanor Beavin was superb on the back line, picking up a game-high 15 digs. She also recorded a pair of assists and a service ace in the winning effort as well. DeLeye added nine digs of her own, Audrey Whitworth had eight, and Grome and Molly Tuozzo each had five. 

Following the match, Tealer stressed the importance of approaching every match with the same amount of urgency, a message she and the rest of the upperclassmen have been sure to pass on to younger players on the court. 

“I’ve experienced really great wins and awesome tournament runs as you guys know, and then experienced really tough losses really early on that we didn’t think were going to happen,” Tealer said. “Brooklyn (DeLeye) said it, coming in and playing like this is our last time, tomorrow’s not promised so we have to really play hard tonight. At this point every team is good, every team wants to win. The will is there so we have to come out ready and be ready to fight for the whole two-hour match.” 

With the win, Kentucky advances into the round of 32 and will take on Baylor Friday night inside Rupp Arena with a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on the line. Baylor finished tied for 6^th in the Big 12 standings after a 10-8 conference season, but ended the year ranked No. 23 in the AVCA Top 25. 

The Bears took down James Madison in the first match of the Lexington Regional Thursday and were led by junior outside hitter Elise McGhee, who finished the match with 16 kills on a .519 clip. 

UK head coach Craig Skinner cited the Bears’ speed on offense as a big hurdle the Cats are going to have to overcome Friday if they want to get out of Rupp with another win.

“Little bit more complex offense, the way they run it with the speed that they have and variations of where they attack along the net,” Skinner said. “So, we’ll certainly be prepared for that. They’re going to have some impressive kills and when we get opportunities we’re going to have to capitalize on them.”

First serve against Baylor is set for 7:00 pm E.T. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.