LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 13 Kentucky Volleyball team delivered a dominant performance as they swept Georgia 3-0 in front of over 3,900 spectators at Rupp Arena. Erin Lamb led the charge with 14 kills and an impressive hitting percentage of .480. This victory marked Kentucky’s sixth top-50 RPI win and extended their win streak to 12 matches in a row.
The Wildcats came out with intensity, comfortably winning the opening set 25-13. They maintained a remarkable hitting percentage of .593 and a 71 percent sideout conversion rate. After falling behind early in the second set, Kentucky fought back to level the score at 19-19, taking control and closing out the set 25-23. In the third set, they never trailed, securing a 25-20 win to seal the sweep.
With this win, Kentucky remains one match ahead of No. 9 Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference standings. They now boast a 15-7 overall record and an impressive 13-1 record in the SEC. On the other hand, Georgia falls to 15-11 overall and 6-8 in the SEC.
Brooklyn DeLeye, Erin Lamb, and Reagan Rutherford led the charge for Kentucky, each reaching double-digit kills. DeLeye recorded 16 terminations, Lamb contributed 14 kills, and Rutherford scored 11 times on 20 swings. Emma Grome controlled the UK offense with 43 assists, while Eleanor Beavin led the defense with nine digs. Azhani Tealer’s dominant net play was evident, ending the match with two solo blocks and five block assists.
Kentucky’s next challenge will be against Texas A&M on Thursday in Lexington at Rupp Arena. They will aim to continue their winning streak and make it 5-0 in the month of November. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start and will be broadcasted on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
The key moment of the match came in the second set when Azhani Tealer and Reagan Rutherford combined for a crucial stuff block to tie the score at 19-19 after trailing the entire set. Additionally, Emma Grome was the standout player of the match with 43 assists and a block assist.
It is worth noting that Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center will be the primary home venue for Kentucky gymnastics, volleyball, and women’s basketball teams during the 2023-24 season while Memorial Coliseum undergoes renovations.
For the latest updates on Kentucky Volleyball, fans can follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @KentuckyVB.
