DeLeye’s 20 Kills Lead Wildcats to 3-1 Victory over Tigers

In an exhilarating match at Rupp Arena, the No. 12 Kentucky Volleyball team continued their dominant season by extending their winning streak to 14 matches with a 3-1 victory over Missouri. Freshman Brooklyn DeLeye led the way with an impressive 20 kills, while Elise Goetzinger and Erin Lamb also made significant contributions to secure the win.
With this victory, the Wildcats now have an overall record of 17-7 and stand at an impressive 15-1 in the Southeastern Conference. This places them in a favorable position as they head into the final weekend of SEC play, with Arkansas and Tennessee both trailing one game behind. If Kentucky manages to win either of their upcoming matches, they will clinch an SEC Championship. Their next test will come on the road against No. 9 ranked Arkansas in what promises to be a thrilling clash on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET.
Kentucky got off to a blistering start in the match, dominating the first two sets and winning them 25-12 and 25-15 respectively. However, Missouri fought back and managed to win the third set 25-18, pushing the match to four sets. In the fourth set, the Wildcats found their rhythm again and eventually won 25-21, with DeLeye delivering the winning kill.
Offensively, the Wildcats were exceptional throughout the match, hitting over .500 after the first two sets and finishing with a remarkable .386 hitting percentage. Setter Emma Grome played a crucial role, providing 48 assists to set up her teammates. Defensively, Azhani Tealer led the way with five blocks, closely followed by Megan Wilson and Elise Goetzinger with four blocks each. Eleanor Beavin anchored the floor defense effort with 13 digs, helping to limit the Tigers to a .217 attacking percentage.
In the first set, DeLeye made an immediate impact, scoring early points for the Wildcats. Megan Wilson and Azhani Tealer contributed with an impressive block, extending the lead to 6-0. The threat of Kentucky’s strong blocking game kept Missouri’s hitting percentage at .000, and the Wildcats capitalised on Missouri’s errors to close out the set with a 25-12 victory.
The Wildcats continued their strong start in the second set, taking an early 4-1 lead. DeLeye led the team with 11 kills, while Eleanor Beavin displayed her defensive prowess. With a score of 15-9, Emma Grome and Goetzinger combined for a crucial block, giving Kentucky a comfortable lead. DeLeye continued to dominate, and the Tigers struggled to cope with the Wildcats’ attacking and blocking prowess. Erin Lamb delivered the final blow with her third kill of the match, securing a 25-15 victory for the Wildcats and a 2-0 lead.
The third set presented a different challenge for Kentucky as they had a slower start and found themselves trailing. Tealer and Grome managed to pull the team level at 6-6 with a strong block, but Missouri’s aggressive defense allowed them to take a 17-13 lead. Lamb and Tealer stepped up their game with three kills each, bringing the Wildcats within three points at 18-15. However, Missouri’s efficient offense prevailed, hitting an impressive .400 and closing out the set with a 25-18 win.
In the fourth set, the Wildcats continued to fight back, with Grome distributing the ball effectively to all of the hitters. Tealer’s blocking game proved crucial, with two consecutive blocks taking her total to four for the match. With a 14-12 lead, Lamb’s powerful swing pushed the Wildcats ahead by three points. Contributions on both ends of the court extended Kentucky’s lead to 20-16. Tealer’s blocking game again shut down the Tigers, and DeLeye sealed the victory with her 20th kill, winning the set 25-21.
The key moment in the match came in the fourth set when Kentucky went on a 3-0 run, pushing the lead to 15-12 and creating a significant gap between the teams. This pivotal moment ultimately helped Kentucky secure the win.
Erin Lamb was the standout player of the match, with an impressive hitting percentage of .450 as she delivered 10 kills on 20 swings with only one error.
In a historic achievement, Brooklyn DeLeye became the first freshman in program history since Leah Edmond in 2016 to record three matches with 20 or more kills.
Looking ahead, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center will serve as the primary home venue for Kentucky Volleyball, along with the gymnastics and women’s basketball teams, for the 2023-24 season while Memorial Coliseum undergoes an $82 million renovation.
Follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @KentuckyVB for the latest updates on UK Volleyball.