Vicky Graff Photo
Just when you think Brooklyn DeLeye cannot do anything else to surprise you, she does.
The Kentucky sophomore outside hitter had 30 kills Sunday in UK’s 3-1 (25-27, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21) win over Georgia at Memorial Coliseum.
DeLeye’s 30 kills set a school record for the most kills in a four-set match. She got the kills on 69 swings with only four errors and hit .377. She also had eight digs for No. 13 Kentucky as the Cats won their eighth straight match.
The only other UK player to have 30 kills in a match in the current rally-scoring era is Anni Thomasson (2013-16) who did it against LSU in a five-set match.
DeLeye, an All-American, now has had 10 or more kills in 42 matches in her two seasons. Eleven times she has had 20 or more kills in a match. Only Leah Edmond with 29 in her career has more 20-kill matches.
Setter Emma Grome paced the Kentucky offense with 58 assists on 66 of Kentucky’s kills. Sophomore libero Molly Tuozzo had 19 digs. Grome and Eleanor Beavin each had two service aces.
Kentucky is now 11-2 in Southeastern Conference play and 17-7 overall after starting the season 6-6 that included a loss at Auburn to open SEC play. Now Kentucky is leading the SEC — again.
Florida and two-time defending national champion Texas, which swept UK in Lexington, are next at 10-3. Missouri is 9-3.
Kentucky has home matches left with Mississippi State and Arkansas before closing regular season play Nov. 27 at Missouri. Missouri has road matches at Ole Miss and Mississippi State remaining before hosting UK and Auburn to end the regular season.
Florida has road matches left at Auburn, South Carolina and Georgia. Texas plays at Oklahoma before hosting Tennessee and Ole Miss.
Kentucky-Georgia Volleyball
Photos by Vicky Graff
