A Hobbled Eva Hudson Overcome an Injury to Fuel Kentucky's Comeback Win Over Volunteers

by: Penelope Steffek-Lynch11/10/25penelopesl3

Kentucky's Eva Hudson - Ethan Rand, UK Athletics

In front of a lively sellout crowd of 6,236, the largest since 1983, Kentucky volleyball star Eva Hudson delivered a performance that defined leadership, grit, and heart. Despite suffering a twisted ankle injury late in the first set, Hudson returned to help lead her team to a 3-1 victory over Tennessee on Sunday afternoon in Memorial Coliseum.

Hudson made her impact noticeable from the jump. Early in the first set, she recorded two huge solo blocks to spark Kentucky’s hot start before leaving the court with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

“The initial shock was really scary,” said Hudson. “But then the fact that we started the second set and I wasn’t on the court was a little scarier to me. I know BK [Brooklyn DeLeye] was going to step up and do her role, so I had comfort in knowing our team was going to win no matter what.”

That trust was rewarded. DeLeye helped to lead the Cats through the second set while Hudson sat on the bench. But the real turning point came when Hudson returned to the court, visibly limping, midway through and reignited the Wildcats’ offense. The pair went kill-for-kill, as Hudson’s resilience motivated a 5-0 surge that helped switch the match’s momentum in Kentucky’s favor.

“Eva’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever met,” said DeLeye. “When she said she was fine, I knew she wasn’t fine. But I knew she was going to come back. She’s going to go all the way to the grave fighting for this team.”

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Hudson ended the night with 19 kills, five digs, and four blocks while hitting an impressive .381. Fittingly, her final swing from the back row handed Kentucky the 25-18 fourth set win and 3-1 match victory, erupting the crowd in applause.

“Right now it’s throbbing,” Hudson admitted with a grin. “But we’ll just wait until the adrenaline wears off.”

Her performance didn’t just outdo itself in numbers; it was a testament to toughness and the fierce competitive spirit that makes the Kentucky volleyball program so respected and resilient.