Molly Berezowitz (11) has been a defensive/serving contributor for Kentucky but also has the ability to relate to teammates and coaches. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky volleyball has a lot of star power that has the Wildcats in position to host NCAA Tournament games until the Final Four. Brooklyn DeLeye and SEC Player of the Year Eva Hudson not only are two of the best players in the Southeastern Conference, but two of the best in the country. Setter Kassie O’Brien is SEC freshman of the year and could be national freshman of the year. Libero Molly Tuozzo earned all-SEC honors again.
However, one of the team’s unsung contributors has been junior defensive specialist Molly Berezowitz, a Marquette transfer who helped her team reach the NCAA Tournament regional final in 2024. She has made the most of her playing time to help solidify UK’s defense. She’s third on the team in digs and fourth in service aces despite her limited playing time.
“The crazy thing about Molly is that you look at the stats and she is averaging just under three digs per set but only playing three rotations per set as a defensive specialist,” said Chris Shoals, assistant director of athletic communications and public relations for volleyball. “We have also gone on a lot of runs with her serving this year. Teams have a lot of difficulty receiving Molly’s serve.
She has an intangible quality that might be even more important for No. 2 Kentucky, which won its ninth straight SEC regular season championship and opens SEC Tournament play today.
“The thing about Molly that makes her so much fun is her unbelievable ability to relate to everybody on the team. She can do that with all 14 players and a whole bunch of staff members. She’s an incredibly good culture player,” Shoals said.
“She is just a player who makes an impact that someone who does not follow the sport might not know or understand. The way she carries herself is just a huge plus for our team.”
