Leah Edmond had 22 kills and Madison Lilley had 55 assists and Kentucky beat Western Kentucky in a five-set thriller on Saturday night at Memorial Coliseum.
Kentucky (28-3) got 14 kills apiece from Avery Skinner and Kaz Brown.
Western Kentucky hit a scorching .395 in the first set, with Alyssa Cavanaugh leading the way with eight kills. Taylor Dellinger added four kills for WKU, who led the entire set. Jessica Lucas had 14 assist for the Lady Toppers. Kaz Brown led Kentucky with five kills in the set.
The second set was tied 3-3 before Western Kentucky went on a 5-1 run take an 8-4 lead. Kentucky would rally to tie the set at 12-12 and the Wildcats took their first lead of the set at 16-15. Kentucky would build its lead to 20-17 before WKU scored eight of the next nine points to win the set 25-21. Cavanaugh had six more kills for the Lady Toppers and Lucas added 14 more assists.
In the third set, WKU had a 16-15 advantage before Kentucky scored six in a row to take a 21-16 lead. Freshman Avery Skinner had three straight kills for the Wildcats during the run. Kentucky would win the set 25-19. Skinner had seven kills in the set for Kentucky.
Kentucky took the early lead in the fourth set and the Wildcats would lead 10-6 after a service ace by Madison Lilley. WKU would rally to get within one point on two occasions, but Kentucky would hold on to win the set 25-21. Edmond had six kills in the set for the Wildcats.
In the fifth and deciding set, Kentucky scored the first four points to jump out to a quick lead behind two kills from Edmond. WKU would cut the lead to 5-4 behind a pair of kills by Dellinger. After Kentucky extended the lead to 8-5, the Lady Toppers were able to get within a point on three occasions. WKU tied the set at 12-12 on another Dellinger kill.
Western Kentucky (31-4) got a match-high 23 kills from Cavanaugh.
Kentucky took a 14-12 lead on a pair of kills by Edmond on their way to winning 15-12. The Wildcats advance to next week’s regional tournament, which will also be held at Memorial Coliseum.
