Molly Tuozzo on Interviews, National Title, Teammates, Craig Skinner and More

Junior Molly Tuozzo loves playing for coach Craig Skinner. (Larry Vaught Photo)

If Kentucky volleyball is going to make a serious run at its second national championship this season, junior liberbo Molly Tuozzo will need to have a special season.

She made the all-Southeastern Conference freshman team in 2023 when she led UK in aces. In 2024, coach Craig Skinner made Tuozzo the starting libero and moved three-year starter Eleanor Beavin, an all-SEC selection, to another spot. She responded with 10 or more digs in 23 straight matches, including 22 against Ball State. She also had four aces against Louisville and Oklahoma.

Tuozzo, who had over 1,000 digs in her Texas prep career, admits she is “super excited” about this season which starts Aug. 23 with an exhibition match against Ohio State at Memorial Coliseum.

“We’re all just really trying to get in as many reps as we can without the coaches, and then obviously it’s going to be much more sped up whenever we’re with the coaches,” Tuozzo said last week. “That first exhibition game is about a month away, so we’re all just trying to do as much as we can to get better right now.”

Tuozzo talked with me about a variety of other subjects as well:

Question: What has been the highlight of your summer?

Tuozzo: “I would say just getting to do so many activities with the team outside of practice. We obviously don’t have a really busy schedule in the summer so we’re doing so many things outside of volleyball just to get to know each other and grow our bonds with each other. That’s been the best part of the summer.”

Question: Have you learned to enjoy interviews now compared to when you first got to Kentucky?
Tuozzo: “I mean, at first, it’s super overwhelming. I was never a loud kind of talkative person and then I got here and it brought me out of my comfort zone. Now it’s much easier and less nerve wracking. So I would say I enjoy it now.”

Question: When you look at this team is it hard not to think of a national championship? Or is that something you try to avoid?
Tuozzo: “I would say it’s always in the back of our mind, but we try to just think about what’s now. Obviously we’re thinking about practice and then our first game and the SEC championship. There’s so many things in front of that national championship. I think championship, we try not to get ahead of ourselves.”

Question: Did you feel the pressure on you last year when Skinner made you the starting libero?
Tuozzo: “Obviously it was a massive role to fill. I think it was a little overwhelming at first, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity that he gave me. I just took that and ran with it and used it as fuel to just get better and prove to my team that I really wanted to be the bro (libero). She (Beavin) is obviously an amazing player, so it was definitely surprising but I was working so hard for that.”

Question: Could you have handled the move as well as Beavin did when she had to change positions?

Tuozzo: “Everyone has a role on this team, and no person is less than another. I think it was definitely a hard pill to swallow at first (for Beavin), but we’re all here for a reason. I think not letting that define me if it were to happen, and doing whatever I can to help the team if that’s as a bro on the bench. Whatever it is, you just have to do it.”

Question: What other sports did you play growing up in Texas?

Tuozzo: “I played soccer for about seven years,all the way up until I started playing volleyball. And then I kind of was like, ‘Yeah, I’m done with running. I like volleyball a lot more.’ I ran track for a couple of years and did swimming.”

Question: How high can you jump and can you touch the basketball rim?

Tuozzo: “I can I can touch 10 (feet), one and a half (inches). Last year is when I first touched that. But I always did long jump and triple jump in track. So I think starting from a young age, I was jumping a lot.”

Question: Is there any previous Kentucky volleyball player that you really enjoyed watching when you were growing up or when you were being recruited?

Tuozzo: “I would say Ashanti Tealer. She’s an amazing athlete and person off the court. So she’s always so fun to watch, especially now as a pro and coaching at Vandy. She’s always been such an amazing player to watch.”

Question: What do you think will be the biggest adjustment the team will have to make when the season starts?

Tuozzo: “I think just adapting to having half of a new coaching staff and new players. I think you kind of have to figure out what works well for each person, how I can talk to this person, how I can’t talk to this person, how personalities fit.”

Question: Does that come from match experience or practice?

Tuozzo: “I would say just experience and time together. We’ve already grown so close as a team in such a short amount of time, so I think it’s only going to build. We obviously had the spring together. I think we all just want it so bad. We want to win together. We have so much love for each other and we’re all grateful to be here, grateful to play for Kentucky and something bigger than ourselves. We’re all just so ready to buy into this experience and grateful to be here. That’s what separates us from other teams.”

Question: How much fun is it playing for Craig Skinner?

Tuozzo: “He’s such an amazing coach and person. He actually cares about us as people and wanting to grow us, not only on the court, but also outside of the court because volleyball doesn’t last forever. I think the one thing that I’m super grateful for is just how … I don’t even know how to describe it. He’s just so helpful with us, not only on the court, but growing us.”

Question: Is he different when he recruits you and tries to get you to play for him than he is now that you are on campus playing for him?

Tuozzo: “No, honestly, he’s how he is now. Super down to earth, super easy to talk to.  He cares about you so much and you’re not only a volleyball player in his eyes, you’re a person. That was the main reason that I honestly chose to come here. It’s such a big family, and me being so far from home, it just immediately felt like a massive family.”