Volleyball Cats embrace challenge of knowing every team wants to beat UK this year

Kentucky volleyball knew it would be a major target for any opponent it played this year after not only winning a fourth straight Southeastern Conference title last year but also winning UK’s first national championship.

“Every game we play, any opponent wants to beat us,” Stumler, a senior All-American, said. “Our target got really big last year. We are still learning every single day how to take on the best every team has because of the large target we have.”

Kentucky is 20-4 overall and 13-1 in conference play after sweeping Texas A&M in two matches last weekend (the Cats have now won their last four matches 3-0). Mississippi State, which lost to UK, is 13-2 in SEC play and Florida is 10-2. Every other team has at least five league losses.

Kentucky senior Lauren Tharp, Stumler’s roommate, has enjoyed the renewed passion teams have against Kentucky and the way opponents celebrate winning points or sets against the Wildcats.

“It’s awesome that teams come in and give us their best,” Tharp said. “It’s good for our league that we have earned everyone’s respect and when they come in give us 100 percent.”

Kentucky plays twice at Auburn this weekend before ending the regular season by hosting Florida Nov. 26 and Nov. 27.

Kentucky has won 18 sets in a row and 25 matches in a row against Auburn.