Kentucky players were happy after beating Tennessee Wednesday but they will be even happier if they can win at Florida this weekend. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Tennessee did nothing to make it easy for Kentucky but coach Craig Skinner was thrilled with No. 18 Kentucky’s 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 26-24) victory over the Vols Wednesday night.
“All wins are good wins in this league,” said Skinner. “You can never get too comfortable. I was pleased with the win and we had almost five players with double digit kills. That is rare. It was a good offensive night.”
Reagan Rutherford led all scorers for UK with 16 kills. Adanna Rollins was next with 15 kills while Azhani Tealer had12 (along with eight blocks) and Elise Goetzinger 11. Sophomore Erin Lamb got close with nine kills, including seven in the third set alone.
“That’s a lot of kills in one set. I think the (school) record is 13 (in one set), but seven is a lot,” Skinner said. “She has been practicing very well, so I knew she would be ready.”
Lamb has not played as much as she probably expected. She was in the starting lineup but has lost playing time to freshman Haley Melby, a more consistent player who is not as big a hitter as Lamb.
“It’s fun when Haley and I battle in practice and make each other better,” Lamb said.
Kentucky’s sixth straight win sets up a showdown at Florida this weekend for the SEC lead. Kentucky (17-6 overall) is tied with the Gators in league play at 12-2. The two teams play Saturday and Sunday afternoons in Gainesville and then both have two more matches after that to conclude regular-season play.
Rutherford said playing Florida “means just a little bit more” and the two teams normally battle for the SEC championship.
“It’s important and we are looking forward to it,” Rutherford, who had nine digs, said. “We all knew we had Florida this weekend but in practice it was Tennessee first. Now we can focus on Florida.”
Rutherford says Kentucky’s balance that knocked off the Vols is the team’s biggest strength.
Skinner says it’s a challenge to play the right personnel since he has so many players playing well but it is the kind of problem he likes.
“We always have people pushing but I would rather have that than everybody knowing who is playing,” Skinner said.
Skinner said this will be a “fun weekend” and noted how well Florida is playing. He expects a “great matchup” that might go five sets both days.
Kentucky played a rugged early-season schedule but Skinner says that is not what will help UK the most this weekend.
“There is not much we have not seen and not many situations we have not been in,” Skinner said. “I think more importantly what has prepared us for this season is that our league is tough. Five years ago we may have rolled through the league before Florida. Now you do not expect anything to be handed to you.”
Photos by Vicky Graff
One Response
Always good for any UK team to beat the ugly A$$ Orange in any thing. It was good to see UGA put some humility back in that arrogant bunch of phony’s and cheats.