One of the highlights of the schedule is Kentucky’s return to the ESPN Shirners Children’s Clearwater Elite Invitational presented by Evoshield. This premier college softball non-conference tournament features games televised on the ESPN family of networks.

Running back Jawhar Jordan, center Bryan Hudson, and defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte were all named to the first team. Jordan has had an impressive season, rushing for 1,076 yards and 13 touchdowns, with five 100-yard rushing games. Hudson, the 2023 Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, played over 780 snaps and did not allow a single sack all season. Gillotte leads the ACC in sacks with 11.0 and ranks fifth with 14.5 tackles for loss.

Center Bryan Hudson, who was recently awarded the prestigious ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to compete for a championship. “Competing for a championship is always the goal at the beginning of the season,” said Hudson. “So to have gotten to this point is definitely encouraging for all of us. We’re excited to be practicing still and getting ready for the game.”

– The Cardinals are coming off a thrilling overtime win against New Mexico State, with head coach Kenny Payne securing his first overtime victory. Meanwhile, Bellarmine suffered a close 62-58 loss on the road against West Virginia coached by former Cardinal assistant Scott Davenport.

Louisville had an impressive showing at the Betty Chancellor Classic in Texas, with Nina Rickards and Kiki Jefferson leading the way. Rickards recorded double figures in every game, including a double-double against Alabama. Jefferson had two standout performances, scoring 20 points against Liberty and a season-high 21 points against Gonzaga.

Abby Devereaux, Kristy Pfaff, Claire McDaniels, Jodi Cobb, Sam Duncan, and Gavin Hang will be showcasing their diving skills at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The national meet, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, will take place from November 28 to December 6. Former UK diver Kyndal Knight and future Wildcat Avery Geise will also be joining the team.

Kentucky, now ranked 12th by the Associated Press, is eagerly anticipating the challenge ahead. Assistant coach Chuck Martin expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s a great game to be a part of. I think this is one of the reasons you come to Kentucky, to play in these early nonconference games.” Martin also mentioned that the team has been preparing well, having had “two or three good days of practice”, and that their spirits are high.

The winter championships will kick off on November 28 with qualifiers running until November 30. The finals will then commence on November 29 and continue until December 6. This event also holds significant importance as it will serve as a qualifier for the upcoming 2024 World Aquatics Championships. Additionally, Knoxville has been selected to host the 2024 US Olympic diving team trials from June 16-23.

Stoops led Kentucky to a 38-31 win over the No. 9 Louisville Cardinals on the road last Saturday, which is the highest-ranked win in his tenure. This victory also extended Stoops’ school records for most wins (73) and most wins against ranked opponents (13). It marks the fourth consecutive season that Stoops’ squad has defeated two ranked opponents. The Wildcats also earned the title of Cheez-It National Team of the Week for their outstanding performance.

DeBeer put together an impressive performance against No. 12 Georgia Tech, recording 18 kills, 15 digs, three aces, and a block. She was also instrumental in passing 41 serves, more than any other player on both teams. The Louisville native’s contributions helped her team secure a 3-1 victory over the Yellow Jackets, avenging a previous loss earlier in the season. DeBeer’s outstanding performance throughout the awards season bookended her achievement as the first Offensive Player of the Week and the last.