Something in the Orange... was dismantled: Kentucky VB extends win streak to six
As the weather gets colder, the matches become more meaningful. No. 18 Kentucky volleyball knows exactly that after they handled business Wednesday night. The ‘Cats have now won six matches in a row, with the 3-1 victory over rival Tennessee becoming the latest.
At 17-6 (12-2), Kentucky is tied for first place in the SEC. The other opponent atop the standings is No. 10 Florida. The Wildcats and Gators will meet very soon to sort out the details of top dog in the conference.
Wednesday night saw a defensive battle between both squads. The Vols and ‘Cats both finished the match with 10 blocks each. Kentucky barely out-dug Tennessee, 66-64. Truly a defensive battle inside of Memorial Coliseum.
A battle from the start
The freshmen looked comfortable from the jump. Haley Melby leaped and smashed home a kill and Audrey Whitworth aced Tennessee on the following play to put Kentucky up two.
Reagan Rutherford and Elise Goetzinger were flying offensively late in the first. Goetzinger finished with four kills after the opening frame. It wasn’t just offense getting it done early for Kentucky. Emma Grome and Azhani Tealer stepped up defensively for the Wildcats, grabbing a joint block to make it 20-13 in favor of UK. Tennessee had no answer, as they dropped the first set 25-18.
The second set was a different story for the visitors from Knoxville.
Grome’s cheeky kill fooled everyone in the building to make it 7-7 early in the second. The SEC Player of the Week was lined up to set the ball but pushed it with a perfect amount of precision to grab the kill. All of the Vols swore that Grome was laying it off to Tealer. About 20 points later, honors were still even.
Tennessee caught fire to finish off the set. A crazy dig put the Volunteers up 23-18 and that was about all she wrote in the second. Goetzinger was able to save two set points, however, it wasn’t enough as Tennessee evened the match up, taking the second 25-21.
Erin Lamb, take a bow
Coming into the third set not having recorded a kill off the bench, Erin Lamb took over the match. She got on the board with a kill early making it 4-2 for Kentucky. Lamb’s infamous set continued when she grabbed her third kill extending the Wildcat lead to 10-7. After her sixth kill of the frame, Lamb decided to rise and stuff Tennessee at the net. Right on cue, with Thanksgiving around the corner.
Her seventh kill put Kentucky up 20-14 and she was treated to a warm ovation as she checked out of the match. Lamb’s brilliance off the bench was game-changing for the ‘Cats but her responses postgame prove that she deserves all the success that came her way.
“I’m just going to stay ready for my next opportunity, whenever that is. It’s fun that Haley (Melby) and I can battle it out every day in practice… it makes me better, it makes her better. Every day in practice, giving it all I have,” said Lamb. A professional answer if I’ve ever heard one.
Adanna Rollins sealed the deal in the third set with her kill. Kentucky would go to the fourth up 2-1.
Don’t look ahead just yet
The Tealer-Grome connection was working wonderfully yet again, this time in the fourth frame. The dynamic duo collaborated for a kill that put Kentucky up 7-5. After a Rutherford kill gave the ‘Cats a 16-12 lead there was really no thought that the Volunteers would sneak back into the contest.
Maddie Berezowitz checked into the game and aced the Vols, but Tennessee stormed back after being down three.
Morgahn Fingall’s 18th kill of the night for Tennessee put the Vols up one late in the set as head coach Craig Skinner burned a timeout with the Big Blue Nation shocked. The Volunteer lead wouldn’t last long. Rutherford terminated and Eleanor Beavin’s ace gave Kentucky match point. There was no response for the orange and white as UK won the fourth set 26-24 to seal the win.
Next up is a trip to Gainesville, where just about everything is on the line. It might be the motto for the entire SEC but it could also be the slogan for this weekend.
“I think it means just a little bit more. You know, it’s Florida, and we’re always head-to-head with them in the SEC. I think it’s going to be an important game and we’re really looking forward to it,” said Rutherford.
The series against Florida begins Saturday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. The SEC crown could very well be decided this weekend and Kentucky will come in playing as well as anyone could ask for.
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