Voleyball

Kentucky’s impressive performance earned them a spot in the regional next week, with the location yet to be determined.

Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly was quick to express her gratitude for the opportunity to host the tournament at the Yum! Center, recognizing the commitment of the university and the impact it has on the sport of volleyball. She praised Western Michigan as a formidable opponent, acknowledging their impressive season and highlighting the skills of their setter Logan Case and libero Andelyn Simkins.

The Cardinals have already faced Wright State earlier this season, defeating them 3-1. Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly expressed excitement about playing them again and acknowledged the tough competition. She also highlighted the special opportunity to play at home in front of their fans.

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.

In addition, Aiko Jones, Elle Glock, and Cara Cresse of Louisville were named to the All-ACC Second Team.

Kentucky’s stellar line-up on the All-SEC Team included Eleanor Beavin, DeLeye, Emma Grome, Reagan Rutherford, and Azhani Tealer. These players showcased their exceptional skills, earning them a spot among the 18-person team. The team also had two representatives on the All-SEC Freshman Team, with Molly Tuozzo joining DeLeye on this prestigious list.

Since that loss to Tennessee, the Wildcats have won an impressive 16 consecutive matches and claimed their seventh consecutive Southeastern Conference title. Their hard work was rewarded once again when they were selected to host an NCAA Volleyball Tournament regional at Rupp Arena this week, something that seemed unlikely just two months ago.

The Louisville Cardinals have had a successful season, finishing second in the ACC race with a 24-4 overall record. They will be led on offense by senior Anna DeBeer, graduate Aiko Jones, and transfer Charitie Luper. DeBeer and Jones recently joined the 1,000+ career kill club, while Luper is coming off a career-high 24 kills against Pitt. The Cardinals will also have strong defensive presence with middle blockers Cara Cresse and Phekran Kong. Setter Elle Glock and libero Elena Scott complete the Cardinal starting lineup.

Kentucky will have the advantage of playing on their home turf as they host James Madison, Baylor, and Wofford inside Rupp Arena at the Central Bank Center. The first and second round matches will begin on Thursday night. The action-packed schedule kicks off with regional two seed James Madison facing off against regional three seed Baylor at 4:30 p.m. ET. Following that, top-seeded Kentucky will take on the Wofford Terriers, the fourth regional seed.

Having already been a part of four (or in Tealer’s case, five) consecutive Southeastern Conference championships, as well as the 2020 national championship, won in a COVID-19 bubble in Omaha, this season presented unique challenges for the entire UK team. The Cats were displaced from their home at Memorial Coliseum due to renovations, which resulted in playing the majority of their matches on the road.