Azhani Tealer making move to middle that could really boost UK volleyball

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Azhani Tealer thinks UK sent a message about how good it can be with a two-match sweep of Tennessee to open the season. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky’s highly ranked volleyball team returns a lot of big names and adds the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class but senior Gabby Curry, an all-SEC libero, says not to overlook sophomore Azhani Tealer of Grand Prairie, Texas.

“She’s going to be playing middle this year. I am astonished by her work ethic and how easily she is switching positions this year,” Curry said about Tealer, a top 20 recruit. “Playing middle is probably one of the hardest, if not the hardest, spots to play but she has transitioned so easy. She is the most athletic human being and makes her athleticism seem so easy. You will love the way she plays.”

Kentucky coach Craig Skinner already does.

“She is playing a role she has not played before,” Skinner said. “She may be the best athlete pound for pound on the team. You will see her do some things that create ‘wow’ moments.”

She showed off just what she could provide in the middle immediately in UK’s wins over Tennessee last weekend.

“I was definitely nervous. It was something (the move to the middle) we had been working on since January,” Tealer said. “It is something really different for me, having to block both ways and reading the center, but I like it.”

Juniors Alli Stumler and Lauren Tharp were big contributors last year but Curry says both have dramatically improved. Curry says Tharp has pushed her more than anyone since all-SEC libero Ashley Dusek did her senior season during Curry’s freshman season.

“Alli was really good last year but she has grown into a leadership role and is realizing she has the game and confidence to be great,” Curry said.

Curry believes this is the best team she’s been on at Kentucky, something she admits she has thought each season.

“With this group of freshmen and so many returners with another year of experience that makes so much difference I just think we can be special,” Curry said. “We also got in a lot of good training time (due to COVID-19) that we usually did not get that’s going to help.”

With UK only playing eight matches this fall due to COVID-19 issues, Tealer said starting the season the way UK did was important.

“I think we really made a statement on how good we can be and how physical we can be (beating Tennessee). So that was pretty cool,” Tealer said.

Kentucky plays at Missouri Thursday and Friday.

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