Kentucky Volleyball defeats Texas State 3-0 in season opener
It’s a new Kentucky Volleyball team with a lot of new faces, yet the results haven’t changed.
The ‘Cats began their title defense this morning in Dayton, sweeping Texas State 3-0 in their first game of the 2021 season. Unfortunately for fans, the game was not televised or streamed anywhere, but we’ll do our best to piece together what happened.
First Set
Kentucky opened up the first set with a 5-0 run. Four of those points started with a serve by new starting libero Riah Walker. As the set progressed Texas State climbed back and cut the lead to one around the midway point, 16-15.
A Reagan Rutherford kill ended the Bobcat run. With Lauren Tharp up to serve, the ‘Cats rattled off four more points to extend the lead to 21-15. From there, UK breezed to a first-set victory, 25-18.
Second Set
Perhaps a little bit of rust needed to be knocked off in the first set. Because in the second set, the Champs made their statement. The Kentucky Volleyball team granted Texas St. a pity point to start the second period, then buried the Bobcats for 13 straight points.
13-0 runs are extremely rare in Volleyball. That is utter dominance.
I’m almost certain last year’s team never scored 13 in a row. To be that perfect for that long in a sport with often dictated by randomness is so impressive. In their first game of the season, too, with a bevy of freshman and sophomores getting their first real reps.
Also: it was Riah Walker who served during the 13-0 run. Haven’t gotten to see her in game action so far, but Kentucky Volleyball may have the most talented back row underclassman in the nation. She certainly looked the part of a future superstar as a freshman, and her performance today was actually unbelievable.
To finish, Kentucky slammed the door on Texas State 25-7 in a historically great set.
Third Set
Kentucky reverted a bit in the final set. But how can you blame them after that second game?
The third set was close throughout the first half as Texas State kept within two at 15-13 before Craig Skinner called a timeout. Out of the break, UK ran off four straight points mostly off of errors by Texas State, putting the ‘Cats up 19-13.
Of course, it was Riah Walker who delivered the serve on four straight Kentucky points to end the game, 25-15, making it a 10-2 run to end the final set.
Your Kentucky Volleyball team is 1-0.
Stats & Recap
It’s a darn shame we didn’t get to watch this game today. Riah Walker was statistically freakish and probably looked even better in person.
She served the Volleyball 27 times in just three games. Kentucky’s record during her serves: 22 points won, and just 5 lost.
I wish I knew Kentucky Volleyball history better but that has to be a phenomenon of a stat line. It is ludicrous for one player to serve 22 winning points in a three-set match. Kentucky won 75 points total and 22 of them were served by Walker. That’s 30% of the team’s points coming off the hand of Walker.
Can’t emphasize enough: NUTS! And she recorded a team-high 13 digs. I think she’s justified her spot as the starting libero.
Elsewhere, Alli Stumler was the Alli Stumler we’ve come to expect: consistent and deadly at the net. She finished with 14 kills. Sophomores Reagan Rutherford and Madi Skinner scored 9 and 8 kills apiece to round out the attack.
The third-year stick of dynamite known as Azhani Tealer added 6 kills of her own and finished with 6 total blocks and 6 block assists. A typically impressive day at the net for her.
Freshman setter Emma Grome recorded 32 assists and 4 digs, looking the part of a Kentucky setter.
Not a perfect effort in the season opener, but it’s hard to ask for more in an opening game vs. a weaker non-conference opponent.
Luckily, the Kentucky Volleyball team will be back in action later tonight against Dayton at 7 p.m. That one will be streamed on ESPN+.
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