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KSR Today: Kentucky VB is going to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Jack PIlgrimby: Jack Pilgrim12/19/25

After cruising through the Lexington Regional having lost one single set in four matches — UCLA threw a jab back in the Round of 32 — Kentucky Volleyball finally got tested on the sport’s biggest stage in Kansas City at the Final Four. Taking on No. 3 seed Wisconsin for a spot in the national championship, the Wildcats got absolutely smashed in the opening set 25-12 to fall behind early with the fewest points scored in a single set all season, then dropped the third set to force a win-or-go-home fourth at 2-1 overall. That one was a heavyweight battle of back-and-forth haymakers, leading to a 24-24 tie, only to see Craig Skinner’s group throw two straight to win 26-24 and force a fifth and final set.

It was everything you could ever want in a Final Four performance — especially knowing how it all ended, Kentucky taking early control in the last frame and keeping a cushion through the finish line. 6-1 became 9-3, then 11-7, followed by 13-10 and, most importantly, 15-13, to earn the five-set survive-and-advance victory (12-25, 25-22, 21-25, 26-24, 15-13).

The fascinating part of it all: UK didn’t lead in any major statistical category with the Badgers finishing with 12 more kills, 14 more digs, two more blocks and a .375 hitting percentage compared to .254 for the Wildcats. Skinner even joked afterward that he didn’t know how to explain pulling off a gutsy, gritty victory when the stats suggest you probably should’ve been sent home, but hey, that’s the NCAA Tournament for you. Your job is to find a way, and that’s exactly what this team did.

“I think the cool thing about this team, I thought we’d done it all and I thought we found every possible way to win, and tonight was a different way,” Skinner said after the match. “I think the way they played, the heart that they show is immeasurable. I keep telling them they’re transformational leaders in the way they go about it, what they’ve done for the sport, especially in Kentucky, but not only there, around the country. Proud of them.

“But the job isn’t finished.”

Kentucky was led by National Player of the Year finalist Eva Hudson with 29 kills, followed by fellow All-American Brooklyn DeLeye with 15 kills and 14 digs. Molly Tuozzo added 17 digs while National Freshman of the Year Kassie O’Brien paced the Wildcats with 54 assists.

What a night it was in Kansas City, and they’ll get to run it back on Sunday for a shot at the program’s second national championship in a half-decade. The competition? No. 3 seed and SEC foe Texas A&M, who Kentucky defeated 3-1 during the regular season, guaranteeing a champion from the league that Just Means More.

It’s the first-ever title matchup between two SEC programs.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that two SEC teams are playing for the national championship,” Skinner added. “The coaches in our league have worked incredibly hard to put ourselves on the map and to make the SEC a volleyball powerhouse.”

That’ll take place on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, live on ABC. KSR has boots on the ground in Kansas City, ready to help bring back a second championship trophy to Lexington.

KSR’s Rapid Reaction, Interviews and Postgame Coverage

What was it like inside the building? How did the Wildcats pull it off, despite the stats suggesting otherwise? Zack Geoghegan, Jacob Polacheck and Hunter Mitchell came together for a late-night Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel to talk through it all.

It starts with Maggie Davis telling Polacheck he’s being too loud with Wisconsin right next door crying after the loss. I’d argue he wasn’t loud enough — this is payback for 2015, Badgers.

Craig Skinner, Molly Tuozzo, Eva Hudson and Brooklyn DeLeye celebrated the win at the podium after the dust settled, talking through all of the things that went wrong to muck it up and everything that had to go right to pull off the comeback win in the five-set thriller.

“I’ve never been here. None of us have been here. I think all of us, we were just trying to soak in every bit of it and just kind of remember how we got here,” DeLeye said. “The little girl that once believed they could be on this stage, I mean, we were kind of doing it for that person.”

All of KSR’s other postgame coverage — with plenty more to come as we get ready for the national championship match on Sunday:

Other sights and sounds:

Attend the UKVB Watch Party on Sunday!

UK is opening its doors at Historic Memorial Coliseum for a must-attend Watch Party on Sunday, free to Big Blue Nation with doors opening at 2:30 p.m. ET ahead of first serve at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The match will be shown LIVE on the videoboard with concessions available and plenty of fun to be had.

Speaking of Watch Parties, the one at KSBar and Grille last night was absolute insanity with Drew Franklin getting kicked out after the Wildcats fell behind early and a guy playing the UK Fight Song on a harmonica to celebrate the victory.

If KSBar decides to run it back (odds are good they do), we’ll share all of those details when they’re released, too. One way or another, your butt needs to be somewhere supporting this volleyball team on Sunday — preferably in Kansas City, if you can somehow pull it off. We have business to take care of against the Aggies and the Wildcats need to feel that passion from wherever you are.

Oh, yeah, Pope vs. Pitino

Volleyball has stolen our hearts and attention, but don’t forget the business Mark Pope and the Kentucky men’s basketball team have to take care of this weekend in Catlanta, too.

They’re set to take on Rick Pitino and the St. John’s Red Storm in the CBS Sports Classic, a clash of student vs. master with Pope looking to defeat his old coach as 1996 national champions for the Wildcats.

“I don’t know,” Pope said of juggling the emotions of their time together in Lexington vs. his desire to destroy him on the hardwood. “I don’t think I’ll juggle them at all. Like, we have one job, and only one job, and that’s to go win. And they’re not actually — all of my emotions toward Coach, they’re all focused in exactly the same direction.

“So I love him, and we’re going to go try and beat him. And he’s one of the best all-time coaches in the history of college basketball, so we’re going to try and go beat him. And, I mean, it’s all the same. Like, it all kind of leads to the same end desire.”

Will Jayden Quaintance play?

All eyes are on Kentucky’s prized portal addition, who is nearing his debut nine months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL. Will Quaintance be ready for St. John’s? Pope didn’t rule him out — but also said he had a lot of work to do to put himself in position to play.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” he said. “It’s like — he’s been out of basketball for nine months and crossed half-court for the first time in a drill two days ago. So, we’ll see. It literally is — he’s done an unbelievable job on his rehab and he’s kept up with everything in terms of having an off-the-court concept of what we’re trying to do.

“Every day is probably going to paint a clearer picture for us.”

The Wildcats sure could use him.

The Journey: Indiana

We’ll wrap up this morning with the perfect appetizer ahead of Saturday’s entree against the Johnnies. We know the UK Sports Video team puts together masterpieces after every big win for the Wildcats, but we also know those big wins have been hard to come by this season.

At long last, a victory over Indiana inside Rupp Arena last weekend, meaning we get another edition of The Journey to help get us to tip-off against Pitino and St. John’s.

They take us behind the scenes of every huddle and tense locker room moment — we even got a near-cuss from Pope. You see the energy from Mo Dioubate, Brandon Garrison and Jaland Lowe. You see the clutch buckets and defensive stops, all leading to a 12-point victory to get that monkey off their backs.

Take a look:

Let’s put together another one after this weekend, shall we? Actually, make it two Journey videos after the Volleyball Cats bring home their hardware from Kansas City.

Hey, don’t forget about WBB!

Kenny Brooks has the women’s basketball team rolling, too, sitting at 11-1 on the season with four straight wins and an undefeated 10-0 in true home and away matchups. Up next? Wright State in the Holiday Game inside Historic Memorial Coliseum, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.

The Wildcats fell to Maryland in Puerto Rico back in late November, but have since cruised through Morgan State, Miami (FL), Central Michigan and Belmont to get us to this point just ahead of SEC play. They’re sitting at No. 12 on the year and No. 7 in the newest NET rankings.

Gonna be a fun weekend in Lexington (and Kansas City, and Atlanta). We’re ready for it all at KSR HQ.

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2026-01-06