Kentucky's seniors had to help UK rally from being two sets down to beat Western Kentucky in the 2017 NCAA. The two teams play again tonight in Omaha in the Sweet 16
Beating Western Kentucky tonight in Omaha would put the Kentucky volleyball team into the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. However, even if Western Kentucky (23-0) was not unbeaten there would be no way UK’s seniors would overlook the Hilltoppers. Kentucky (20-1) and Western played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington when UK had to rally to win after dropping the first two sets.
“That was exciting. We had a big crowd and it was a fun match to play in,” Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said. “It really sucked that somebody had to lose that match because both teams deserved a chance to advance. The respect we have for Western and how they play the game, that’s something we need to pull on to understand what we are up against.”
Kentucky has won its last four matches against Western but the Hilltoppers already have two wins in NCAA play, including an upset of Washington State in the second round.
Western has never been in the Sweet 16 but got close in both 2017 and 2019.
Kentucky coach Craig Skinner has been friends with Western coach Travis Hudson a long time. He says the Hilltoppers have had a good program for 25 years.
“They have a somewhat simple but effective system and run it very well,” Skinner said.
He says he “shares a lot and talks a lot of volleyball” with Hudson on a regular basis.
“We have mutual respect for each other’s programs,” Skinner said. “We know each other. They know our program and how we do things. They do it the right way.”
Lauren Matthews led three Hilltoppers in double-digit kills against Washington State with 20 and also had four blocks. Paige Briggs had her 13th double-double of the season with 17 kills, 14 digs, two blocks, one assist, and one ace.
Hudson said that the duo has to play like stars in big matches and did against Washington State. Skinner says it’s no secret UK has to defend them but noted Western does a “very good job balancing the net” every match.
“They all get involved and the setter does a really good job setting the right people at the right time,” Skinner said.
Kentucky All-American Madison Lilley has a knack for always setting the right people and that led to freshman Madi Curry getting 11 kills in her first NCAA match Wednesday when UK beat UNLV.
“She has a lot of talent so certainly she has the ability to do it again,” the UK coach said. “If we had to rely on her to be great to win it might be a different pressure on her. She knows she has great teammates around her and she can perform and the spotlight is not always on her. Some matches she does not get a lot of swings and the other night she did. She is in a good spot.”
Craig Skinner said Saturday afternoon that UK had some anxious moments earlier when a “few false positives” on COVID tests came back waiting for a second test to show everyone was okay. Kentucky has to go through testing again today before playing.
“My nose is getting raw (from COVID testing),” Skinner joked.
He’s not worried about the late start and said UK has played matches as early as 11 a.m. this season and then at various times the rest of the day even though this will be the latest start. He encouraged his players to stay up later than normal Friday night to start adjusting to the late start.
“We will all be out of our comfort zone playing that late,” the UK coach said.
He said it was “out of my area” to explain how the No. 2 overall seed got such a late start time other than ESPN2 had the time slot available for volleyball. Skinner said since the SEC Network started, coaches and players have learned to adjust to unique starting times and it will not adversely impact UK in the Elite Eight Monday if it does advance.
“It would be nice throughout the tournament to have a day in between matches,” the UK coach said. “That’s the next step for women’s volleyball and women’s athletics to have that preparation time.”
However, he called it “exciting” to have the game on ESPN2 so more fans could see the “athleticism and explosiveness” of the athletes as well as get more comfortable watching volleyball so they could talk about it with others more.
