Vicky Graff Photo
When Kentucky dropped to 3-7 on the season after getting swept at home by Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee it could have ended UK’s postseason hopes.
Instead, coach Craig Skinner’s team has won six straight matches, including a sweep at Tennessee.
“Never a doubt ever,” Skinner said after Friday’s sweep of Mississippi State if he envisioned his team would be the role it is now. “Yes, you want to win every match you play. But you try to be the best volleyball team possible at the end of the season. The objective is to improve each week.
“A lot did not go our way the first part of the season but things are starting to happen now. Things can get away if you do not lock in and stay after it.”
Kentucky can continue its upward trend — and move into a tie for the SEC lead — if it can beat No. 10 Arkansas this afternoon in Rupp Arena. Arkansas is 18-2 overall and 8-0 in SEC play after dropping the first set at No. 12 Tennessee Friday and then coming back to win 3-1. Taylor Head had 24 kills to lead the Razorbacks.
Arkansas’ only two losses were at home to No. 1 Wisconsin. Kentucky has lost twice to No. 10 Pitt and once each to No. 2 Louisville, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 20 Purdue, Tennessee and Colorado State.
Skinner tried to somewhat downplay today’s match at 1 that will be shown on the SEC Network.
“The records say it is an important match at this time of year but they all have the same value in the conference race,” Skinner said. “Arkansas is good. It will be a high-level match between two top 20 teams getting after it.”
Skinner says his team developed confidence in practice and then demonstrated performance in matches added to it.
Oklahoma transfer Megan Wilson agreed with her coach.
“Competing every day against high competition helped us grow confidence and it transferred to games,” she said.
