Freshman Kassie O'Brien had 27 assists against defending national champion Penn State. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Just how deep and talented is the Kentucky volleyball team?
Consider freshman setter Kassie O’Brien of Texas. She lost a preseason battle to redshirt sophomore Ava Sarafa to replace multi-time All-American Emma Grome, who started every match the last four years, as UK’s starter.
O’Brien was one of the nation’s top recruits — but so was Sarafa two years ago and she spent the last two years watching and learning from Grome. However, coach Craig Skinner inserted her in the lineup in set two of Kentucky’s impressive win at Penn State and O’Brien delivered.
O’Brien averaged 11.6 assists per set last week and was named the Southeastern Conference Setter of the Week. She had 27 assists Friday at No. 5 Penn State, the defending national championship, along with two key blocks early in the third set . She also had three kills.
On Saturday in a sweep of New Hampshire, she had 31 assists and Kentucky hit .581 when nine different Cats had five or more kills.
O’Brien’s play helped Kentucky not only win twice but climb to No. 3 in the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association Top 25 poll.
The Cats have lost only to No. 1 Nebraska in a five-set match and will now play No. 7 Pittsburgh on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. EST on ESPN in the Inaugural ACC/SEC Showdown at the Net Presented by Shriners Children’s Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Pittsburgh was a Final Four team last year along with Penn State, Nebraska and Louisville, another future UK opponent.
