Dramatic Turnaround Gave Cats Win at No. 3 Louisville

Kentucky players celebrated after a five-set win at Louisville Thursday night. (UK Athletics Photo)

Craig Skinner’s scheduling philosophy for his Kentucky volleyball program is simple — play the best to be the best.

Kentucky had already lost in five sets to No. 1 Nebraska in Nashville, beat defending national Penn State on the road, lost in straight sets to 2024 Final Four participant Pitt and knocked off No. 10 SMU in Lexington.

The Cats, though, pulled off their biggest win of the season — and maybe in several  years — when they won 21-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-12, 15-7 at No. 3 Louisville to snap a four-match losing streak against the Cardinals.

Not only does the win give UK in-state bragging rights, but it should be a huge boost for No. 6 Kentucky when NCAA Tournament pairings are made and host teams selected.

Purdue transfer Eva Hudson, a preseason national player of the year candidate, said UK’s schedule has been “crazy” with Skinner trying to figure out lineups and individual players.

“I have never had a preseason this tough,” Hudson said.

All-American Brooklyn DeLeye was sensational again for Kentucky. She had 24 kills, 14 digs and six blocks. At times, she dominated at the net. However, she may have been even more important with her passionate plea to teammates when the Cards seemed to have the upper hand.

“I think Brooklyn made a great talk in the huddle (after the third set),” Hudson said on the UK Radio Network postgame show. “She said this rivalry is bigger than us 14 girls, it is for this state.

“I am just so proud of people doing their job and some of the game changers coming off the bench and making a difference.”

Jordyn Dailey and Ava Sarafa did come off the bench and play huge roles. Dailey had six kills, four blocks and two digs while Sarafa had 25 assists and two digs in the final two sets after starting setter Kassie O’Brien was injured late in the third set.

However, Hudson was also at her best in the final two sets. After a so-so first two sets, She finished with 17 kills and 21 digs. In the fifth set, she had two kills to spark a 4-0 start for the Cats.

Hudson joked after UK’s win over Houston Sunday that she had “maybe two digs” her freshman season but had been working to improve her overall game.

“I have Brooklyn as a helper and do not have as much stress in the front row. The first two sets I was not producing in the front row and so I committed to get back there and make some plays,” Hudson said.

That mentality helped UK outscore Louisville 40-19 the last two sets after Louisville had a 72-70 edge after three sets. That’s a gigantic momentum shift and total domination by Kentucky over the 2024 national runner-up.

“It just means so much (to win). Being down 2-1, the mental fortitude of this team is amazing,” she said. “I could see so much blue (in the stands) and that was just awesome.”

Kentucky plays again Saturday when it hosts Washington at 1 p.m.