Kentucky Volleyball Isn’t Overlooking Cinderella Cal Poly

Kassie O'Brien, left, and Brooke Bultema will try to end Cal Poly's season today. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said he was expecting an “exciting day” of volleyball in Memorial Coliseum today for the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals.

Host Kentucky, the No. 2 overall seed, will play Cal Poly (27-7) at 3:30 p.m. after Arizona State takes on Creighton at 1 p.m.

Cal Poly is the Cinderella team left after being regional seeds BYU (5) and USC (4) to advance to the Sweet 16.

“II think that if the RPI system was a little bit differently and depending on who they played, non-conference, their RPI would be pretty significantly higher, but obviously the way they play the game and the talent that they have puts them physically in the category as the teams they’ve already played in the tournament,” Skinner said.

“Instantly they had our respect by the way they play and the season they’ve put together. So I think this team has done a really good job regardless of who the opponent is, that we need to play to a standard that we want to live up to each and every day, and Cal Poly will certainly bring that out of us.”

All-American outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye knows a win is not given for the Cats.

“I think we’re just super excited because it shows how the game’s evolving. Any team can be in it at any given point, so I’m super excited to play this team and we’re going to prepare like no other because it could be our last game too,” DeLeye said.

“I don’t think they’re going to take a point off. I think they’re ready to fight and to win,” UK libero Molly Tuozzo said about Cal Poly. “They have nothing to lose, so we just have to come out fighting.”

The Wildcats (27-2) are on a 24-match win streak and rank second nationally in assists and kills per set along with ninth in hitting percentage. Freshman setter Kassie O’Brien ranks second nationally with 10.97 assists per set. DeLeye and Eva Hudson rank 10th and 18th nationally in kills per set.

Skinner appreciates the parity in collegiate volleyball because of the talent nationwide that has elite high school players in every state.

“California has been established as a volleyball state since the beginning and Cal Poly has a history of success, but I think it just starts the number of quality athletes playing our game is everywhere. If you work you can build a championship team and program, and Cal Poly’s done a really good job of that,” Skinner said.

The Cats realize no matter what happens, this will be their last time playing in Memorial Coliseum this season. If they lose, the season ends. If they win twice, they advance to the Final Four in Kansas City. They are counting on a big contingent of Big Blue fans supporting them.

“I think BBN has just been great this whole entire season and they’ve really gotten behind us and are excited to watch us play. So I think we’re going to just come out and show them what Kentucky level is,” Tuozzo said.

“We couldn’t have done a lot of the things we have this season without them (UK fans), so it’s just super cool to have that support system behind us. We have the opportunity to possibly play two more games with them so we’re going to make the most of it,” DeLeye said.