Every Tuesday, UK Athletics recognizes outstanding performances for our student-athletes. These are the honorees for the week ending Sunday, Oct. 23:
Swimming & diving: Megan Eppler
Eppler swam a 23.61 in the 50-freestyle, ranking third overall in the event, which was one of the best performances of the day for the UK women in their season-opening meet in Knoxville, Tenn., this weekend. Eppler also swam a career-best 51.27 in the 100-freestyle placing fourth in the event.
Football: Winston Guy
Led UK with 12 tackles, including two pass break-ups. It marked the sixth time this season and 10th time in his career he has had double-digit tackles. Guy now leads the SEC in tackles with 79.
Volleyball: Christine Hartmann
Junior setter Christine Hartmann had the best all-around performance of her career in leading the Wildcats to a pair of tough-road victories. Hartmann notched a double-double effort, her third of the season, with 39 assists and 10 digs in a win at Georgia. The Wildcats set a school-record with 20.5 blocks in the match, and Hartmann had six. In adding to her repertoire she also posted a career-high four aces in the victory. Hartmann’s impressive dispersal of the ball aided UK to have four players with .300 hitting clips or better in the match. On Sunday, Hartmann’s play only improved. The St. Charles, Ill., native totaled a career-high eight blocks while passing out a career-best 54 assists in a five-set victory. Hartmann found four different players for 13 or more kills with one more posting nine.
Women’s soccer: Kelsey Hunyadi
Kelsey Hunyadi tallied her third career multi-goal game against Mississippi State, leading Kentucky to a win and clinching the Wildcats a berth in this year’s SEC Tournament … She attempted a school single-game record and career-high 11 shots against the Bulldogs in the victory … It was her career-best fourth game-winning goal of the season … Hunyadi netted her 11th goal of the season against the Rebels, it’s the most goals by a Wildcat since the 2001 season and her 30 points on the season are also the most since by a UK player since 2001 … Hunyadi has attempted 72 shots this season, second most in school history, 15 shy of the school record.
Volleyball: Stephanie Klefot
Junior Stephanie Klefot notched 43 digs on the weekend to become just the third player in UK history to post 1,200 digs in a career. The 26 scoops vs. Auburn are the most in an SEC match this season for UK’s starting defensive stalwart. In the match with Georgia, she posted a match-high 17 digs to lead five different UK players in double-figures for digs. Klefot continues to provide a steady presence for the Blue and White has she has posted 10 or more digs in every SEC match this season and in 22-of-23 matches overall this year. Furthermore, Klefot was targeted a team-high 46 times on the service line and committed just one error for an impressive .978 clip.
Football: Offensive line
Did a fantastic job for Kentucky up front, allowing the Wildcats to rush for 340 yards, which is the most since UK had 341 against Vanderbilt last season. It also marked the second-consecutive game UK has not given up a sack.
Volleyball: Jackie Napper
Freshman Jackie Napper’s presence in the back-row helped lead the Wildcats to a pair of road victories this weekend. Napper recorded the first back-to-back double-figure dig efforts of her career with 12 in a win at Georgia and an SEC career-high 13 against Auburn. Napper also registered her second career kill in the win at Georgia. Furthermore, Napper’s steady play on the serve-receive line continues to be impressive. This week, Napper was targeted 42 times and committed just one error for an impressive .976 average. Her 2.78 digs per set ranked as the second-best total on the team, and the best for a non-libero. For her career, she has notched seven matches with 10 or more scoops.
Football: Martavius Neloms
Started the scoring for Kentucky, sacking the JSU quarterback, causing a fumble which he scooped up and returned 40 yards for a touchdown. The fumble recovery for a TD in the first quarter was the first for UK since Ventrell Jenkins’ 56-yard return vs. East Carolina in 2009 (Jan. 2). Ended the game with eight tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and a pass breakup.
Football: Morgan Newton
Rushed for a career-high 75 yards on 12 carries, including a touchdown run. Was also impressive in the passing game, throwing two touchdowns and going 10-for-16 on the day with 105 yards.
Swimming & diving: Tyler Reed
Placed first in the 100-freestyle posting a time of 45.24 seconds. The senior captain also placed well in the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:39.13. Reed swam the fastest split of any UK swimmer with a 20.04 split in the home stretch of the 200 medley relay in which Kentucky finished in third place.
