Kentucky volleyball returns to the national spotlight with 2025 season opener this weekend

This Saturday marks the start of the Wildcats’ 2025 volleyball season.

After being picked to win the Southeastern Conference in the preseason poll for the 9th consecutive time, Kentucky faces another year of bright lights and high expectations. With the return of veteran leaders and star newcomers, head coach Craig Skinner and his squad are looking to build on their recent success and use it as motivation for a grueling schedule.

The Cats head into this season coming off a 25-7 finish, having won the SEC Championship and reached the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Ranked No. 7 in the preseason coaches poll, Kentucky is once again expected to be in contention for what would be their 14th SEC title and another shot at a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

The return of Brooklyn DeLeye and the addition of Eva Hudson will play a major role in Kentucky’s success this year and are crucial to the Wildcats’ national championship aspirations. After their outstanding 2024 seasons, each of them earned a spot on the National Player of the Year Watch List for the 2025 season. DeLeye was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and earned All-American honors last year. Hudson, a transfer from Purdue, led the Big Ten in kills per set.

Kentucky also returns other key contributors who are expected to help push the Wildcats into top-contender territory this season. Sophomore Ava Safara, starting at setter this weekend, will be the engine driving her team’s energy.

“She has just worked really hard for that role,” DeLeye said of Safara. “Obviously, the past couple of years playing under Emma Grome, she’s learned a lot. Just going into that starting position, you see her vocal skills have really come alive.”

Alongside her, redshirt sophomore Brooke Bultema showcased her talent at the net in 2024, leading Kentucky in blocks and finishing third on the team in kills. A preseason All-SEC selection for 2025, Bultema is expected to be an even stronger vocal leader on the front line this year.

Leading the back row, junior Molly Tuozzo is a constant, reliable force in the Wildcats’ defense. Tuozzo’s leadership on the court had a major impact on the 2024 season, significantly contributing to their success. Also named to the Preseason All-SEC team, she’s expected to have another stellar season leading the defense.

To open up the season, the Wildcats head down to Nashville, Tennessee, for a doubleheader against Lipscomb on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+) and No. 1 Nebraska (ABC) on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

The Lipscomb Bisons compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they hold seven regular-season championships and have frequently made appearances in the NCAA Tournament. However, it’s expected to be an easy win for Kentucky ahead of facing the number one team in the country less than 24 hours later.

Kentucky wastes no time diving straight into the fire against Nebraska, one of college volleyball’s most historic programs and the preseason number one program. The Cornhuskers enter the 2025 season with a new head coach, Dani Busboom Kelly, who spent the last eight years elevating Louisville’s program to a national power.

“They’re gonna run pretty simple things, but do it very well,” Skinner said about facing Nebraska. “They’re not gonna be completely complex and start throwing things you haven’t seen. There are definitely a couple of new wrinkles that they’re doing offensively that John (Cook) didn’t do as much, but it’s not crazy significant things. It’s just being efficient at the things they do.”

Sunday’s showdown against two of the biggest programs in college volleyball gives the Wildcats a chance to prove their ability on the biggest stage against one of the biggest names. Kentucky has the perfect opportunity to make an early statement and show the nation that it can compete with the sport’s elite programs.

The Wildcats’ 2025 schedule is jampacked with talented opponents and certainly won’t be an easy road ahead. Within the first month of the season, they will face all four of the 2024 NCAA Final Four teams: Nebraska, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and Louisville. Conference action against No. 5 Texas, No. 16 Florida, and No. 17 Missouri will also play a major factor in the Cats’ postseason standings.

Kentucky’s depth and leadership of returning stars will allow them to compete at the highest level and should put them in a good place to be one of the biggest threats in the SEC, along with the entire NCAA.

With the season kicking off Saturday and a difficult journey ahead, the Kentucky Wildcats are in a perfect position to have another stellar year and prove why they remain a powerhouse in college volleyball.

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