Kentucky had reason to smile Monday after beating Purdue to reach its first Final Four. (NCAA Photo)
It didn’t start easy but by the time the match ended No. 2 Kentucky had more than imposed its will on Purdue in a three-set sweep to put the Wildcats into the Final Four for the first time. Kentucky rallied from a 17-12 deficit to win set one 25-23 and took set two 25-20 before dominating set three 25-16 in Omaha. It was UK’s third straight sweep in NCAA play and put the Wildcats into Thursday’s national semifinal against Washington — the team that eliminated UK in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Coach Craig Skinner was a bit emotional after the match and called it an “amazing accomplishment for our program” and said the win was for all former players and other Wildcats who had been behind his program for years.
Kentucky got a big performance again from junior Alli Stumler. She had 16 kills, 10 digs and one block. She had just four errors on 40 swings at the net. She had one spectacular play where she laid out on the mat to keep a point alive and then got up to make the kill at the net.
“She was huge,” Skinner said. “She was unstoppable for two sets. She made some amazing plays. She was on the floor laying out digging the ball and then crushes it for the kill. You cannot teach those type of plays. She plays the whole game and definitely was a difference-maker tonight.”
All-American setter Madison Lilley, who had 38 assists, 10 digs, and two service aces, said it didn’t take a “high volleyball IQ” to realize just how reliable and level-headed Stumler is every match.
“She is the most consistent player I have ever played with,” Lilley said. “Having somebody like her is huge. There are not enough words to describe how big her all-around game is. It’s so much fun to play next to her and is massively rewarding. She is a rare player. She is our glue.”
Purdue, the No. 7 seed, had a 17-12 lead in set one and seemed on its way to a win over UK (22-1). However, Lilley said the Cats got adjusted and then were “relentless” the rest of the way.
“We were down but adjusted and just started chipping away and grinding,” Lilley said. “In practice, our backs are against the wall all the time (because of the overall talent on the team). We talk about every single set continuing to get better and just to adjust and feel the rhythm.”
Once Kentucky got the rhythm, Purdue could not keep pace. Avery Skinner had 12 kills and six digs. Senior liber Garry Curry had 16 digs, six assists, and two service aces. Freshman Madi Skinner and sophomore Azhani Tealer were not as efficient as they were in the first two NCAA matches but Skinner still had nine kills and Tealer six.
“Before this match, we kept saying impose our will. We are not here by chance,” Stumler said. “We worked hard for a year. It is not by luck or chance we are here. We didn’t start strong, down 17-12 which is crazy how we were able to come back and come out with a sweep.”
Craig Skinner said UK was “unrelenting” and did not panic when it was down 17-12 in the first set. Instead, UK relied on its serving and a defense that continues to improve to take control of the match.
“We were not quite as loose or talkative coming over tonight,” Skinner said. “But I continue to have faith and confidence in this team. They have never let us down. It’s a huge tribute to our seniors for leading this way. Our upperclassmen understand how hard it is to win.”
Kentucky’s match did not start until 10:05 Monday night — but that was about 1 hour, 40 minutes earlier than UK played Sunday night when it swept Western Kentucky.
“Maybe we should just keep playing late-night matches,” Skinner joked. “Maybe that is what we are built for.”
Kentucky won’t have to wait that late in Omaha for the national semifinal. Its match with Washington will start at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
