The sweep taste of victory: Kentucky VB picks up first SEC win

On3 imageby:Ian Alvano•09/25/22

No. 15 Kentucky volleyball got back to winning ways, beating LSU 3-0 on Sunday afternoon. After the Tigers won 3-2 on Saturday, Kentucky picked up its first win since Saturday, Sep. 10 after a three-game skid. The Wildcats move to 6-5 (1-1) and improve to 47-25 all-time against LSU.

Kentucky’s Sunday sweep of LSU gives the Wildcats their first conference win before they hit the road for their first SEC away game on Wednesday.

The aces were flowing early on for Kentucky, which was sporting its white uniforms. Eleanor Beavin had two aces and Riah Walker added one of her own to put the ‘Cats up 9-6. Elise Goetzinger had a monstrous kill that hit off an LSU player’s head and Kentucky was cruising up 20-13.

LSU went on a small run but it wasn’t enough. Reagan Rutherford’s kill won the first set for the Cats 25-21. Adanna Rollins and Rutherford both had three kills after set one.

Not your ordinary set

The second set didn’t look like it was going to go Kentucky’s way after they trailed 17-12. However, Rollins got Kentucky back in the set with a kill that cut the Tigers’ lead to 21-20. Back-to-back kills from Rutherford tied the set at 23 for the first time.

Kentucky had set point up 24-23 but LSU was able to hold the ‘Cats off. Then it got crazy and even crazier.

The Tigers saved SIX set points. Yes, you are reading that correctly.

Any time that Kentucky would have set point, with the Big Blue Nation cheering on their feet, LSU would ruin the fun. The second set was tied at 26 until Sanaa Dotson’s kill for the Tigers would give the visitors set point. The Wildcats won the next point and kept the back-and-forth affair alive.

Finally, after a thrilling series of points, LSU’s attempted kill went out and Kentucky won the second set 32-30. The ‘Cats would go for the sweep up 2-0 in the match, and they would be successful.

A response to be proud of

Kentucky could not have responded better to its loss on Saturday and to the crazy second set on Sunday. Bella Bell had an impressive fourth set where she put the ‘Cats up 9-8 after her second kill of the day. A couple of moments later, she cleverly flicked the ball to where none of the LSU players were, giving Kentucky an 18-16 lead.

Bell earned a rare start today with Azhani Tealer still injured. Tealer is listed as day-to-day and her status for the next match is unknown.

“She (Bell) practiced well today, preparing herself to compete. They’re all capable and today was Bella’s day. She made a huge impact at the net blocking even though she didn’t get five or six stuffs. They (LSU) definitely noticed she was there,” Head coach Craig Skinner said on why Bell deserved to start the match.

Rutherford and Rollins would go on to trade kills as the Wildcats expanded their lead late in the match. Ultimately, Rutherford secured the victory for Kentucky with her 18th kill of the day.

The ‘Cats travel to Columbia on Wednesday, Sep. 28 in their first conference road game of the season. Missouri will be waiting at home after losing its first SEC matchup this past weekend in Knoxville.

“For some reason, I think we play better on the road. We like the energy of away matches, we like the challenge,” said junior Riah Walker.

The matchup against Mizzou is set to be a “Gold Rush” for the Tigers, which leads us to believe it will be a hostile crowd. This could prove to be beneficial for the Wildcats, who haven’t lost away from Lexington this season.

Bring on the Gold Rush.

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2024-04-25