Emma Grome says Kentucky firing on all cylinders going into Sweet 16 against San Diego

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Emma Grome already has 1,200 assists this season. (Vicky Graff Photo)

When she was a seventh-grader, Madison Lilley was the best player at the University of Kentucky volleyball camp and she eventually became the national player of the year on UK’s 2020 national championship team.

Emma Grome had to follow Lilley, not an easy assignment for anyone.

“Emma was a player I always caught myself at tournaments wanting to go back and see again,” said Kentucky coach Craig Skinner. “She is not the same stature as Madison who was 5-11. Emma is 5-8, 5-9 but she touched 9-11. She is a baller, She can do anything on the court. She can hit, pass, block, serve.

“She’s maybe more of an acquired taste but the job she has done stepping into those shoes and doing even better this year is a testament to her desire to be a great player.”

Grome has 1,200 assists in 28 matches along with 221 digs, 43 kills and 33 service aces going into Thursday night’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 match against San Diego in Palo Alto, Calif. The winner will likely meet host Stanford in the regional final Saturday for a berth in the Final Four.

“We definitely have a lot of energy,” Grome, the SEC Player of the Year, said. “No tournament game is easy but to sweep our first two (NCAA) opponents was really great and gave us a lot of confidence.

“We are firing on all cylinders. Our passing has been great. We are excited to go to California and play some really good teams. San Diego had a great season. With the way our defense and passing are going, I think we have a great chance (to reach the Final Four).”

Grome came to UK wanting to win a national championship just like Lilley did. However, UK lost in the second round of NCAA play at home last year.

“Sure we want to win another one. One thing I love about this program is it is really competitive and our goal is to be the best and do what it takes to get there,” Grome said on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports. “We want to repeat that (national championship).

“The expectation is to do well but that fuels our team to be the best it can. We did not do so great last year and everybody is overlooking us this year. Our job is to prove them wrong and that’s what we want to do and show what Kentucky volleyball is. We want to get there (to the Final Four) again. We feel like we are on fire right now and we just have to keep it going.”

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