Lizzie Carr Knew Kentucky Could Be Special

Lizzie Carr, left, and Kassie O'Brien have developed a special connection. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Lizzie Carr averaged 1.52 kills per set, hit .301 with 73 kills and added 0.63 blocks per set last season for Purdue when the Boilermakers went 27-7 and reached the NCAA Louisville Regional semifinals.

She took a bit of a gamble on herself when she transferred to Kentucky but it has worked out great for the 6-foot-6 middle blocker who is averaging 2.0 kills and 1.21 blocks per set. She has 200 kills while hitting .366 and along with 123 blocks going into the NCAA Lexington Regional semifinals against Cal Poly Thursday afternoon in Memorial Coliseum.

Kentucky has won 24 straight matches, including the Southeastern Conference Tournament, and is ranked No. 2 nationally. Two more wins would put UK back in the Final Four for the first time since the 2020 season when it won the school’s only national title.

“I was just hoping I would be able to come here and play some sort of role,” said Carr. “Whatever that role would be was fine. I just wanted to contribute to the team in some way, shape or form, and be able to go far with this team.”

Carr admits the success UK has had is what she was hoping for when she transferred.

“I knew the expectations of this program,” Carr said.  “Some things that I knew that if I came in and whatever my role was going to be helping us reach those goals and meet those expectations was going to be fine with me.”

Eva Hudson also transferred from Purdue to Kentucky after last season. Hudson is one of the nation’s best players and on the watch list for national player of the year. She’s already won SEC Player of the Year honors.

“Being able to do it (transfer) together did make it a little bit easier but everyone else … the staff, the team, everyone here has made it the easiest transition in the world. It’s been really helpful to have people that you are surrounded by liking each other.”

Carr has looked more comfortable — and aggressive — the last month of the season which is perfect timing for UK’s title chances.

“I think your connection with your setter  (Kassie O’Brien) is always growing. That’s something that we’ve worked a lot on recently, and it’s continued to get better and better and I think has shown a lot in recent matches. She’s getting me in great spots. She’s grown into herself and become more confident, so that obviously bodes well for everyone around her.”

Carr believed from day one that this team could be special. The Cats have lost only to No. 1 Nebraska and No. 3 Pitt, another No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

“I saw us day in and day out, the whole entire spring, the whole preseason. This team never quits, never stops fighting every single practice,” Carr said. “We have a lot of talent. You see that night in and night out.

“We talk about how it takes all 14 of us (players) and every person on this team has a very important role. Every person embraces whatever that role is and that takes you really far. We knew this was going to happen in August and it has been cool to see it all happen like we thought it could.”

Sometimes having so much talent can be a problem keeping everyone happy. Carr said that has never been a problem for the Cats.

“t think our overall relationship as a team is so strong. We’ve all been together since January, all 14 of us, and I think that that is such an uncommon thing,” Carr said. “We knew that in January and said we are going to use this to our advantage. Our chemistry is so good, and we’re such good friends. We love each other so much that as much as you want to be the one who’s getting the game winning block or the game winning kill, if you’re the person on the bench who told that person where to hit the ball or what they had open or what shots they had available, it’s just as big.

“We’re really good about recognizing each other in those sorts of moments. That’s really cool to just be able to see every single person fully embrace whatever role they have and do it to the best of their ability.”