Azhani Tealer Ready for Even Bigger Role for UK Volleyball
Last season, Kentucky volleyball head coach Craig Skinner made a bold move. Needing help at the middle blocker position, Skinner and the UK staff moved Azhani Tealer into that spot.
Why was that a bold move? Largely because most middle blockers at the high Division I level are in the 6-3 to 6-5 range in height. Tealer, on the other hand, stands about 5-10.
But the Cats made it work. And work very well. In fact, Tealer was a key part of UK’s run to the national championship last season.
“We worked a lot last year on putting me in good positions,” Tealer said. “It’s a lot easier for me to score off the right side than it is in the middle.”
So how does a 5-10 middle blocker find a way against someone who is five or six inches taller?
“Having that mindset, chip on your shoulder a little bit,” Tealer said. “That’s also a big part of it. Obviously, I’m a little bit shorter but I don’t care. I’m going to fight for my teammates, fight for everything I can do.”
Tealer had some eye-popping numbers last season. She had 214 kills while hitting .435, which was 10th in the country. She had 90 block assists and six solo blocks, with 13 service aces.
As Kentucky made its run through the NCAA Tournament, Tealer was a key cog in the Cats’ attack. She had at least six kills in each NCAA Tournament match, with her best match coming against Washington in the national semifinals. Tealer had 13 kills in that match while hitting .385. She had eight kills in the national championship win over Texas.
Now, Tealer and the Cats return to the court as defending national champions. She and her teammates know they will be the focus of every opponent’s attention this season and they are preparing for that.
“We always hear that pressure is a privilege. We work hard to get that pressure,” Tealer said. “We’re excited about it. That’s why you come here, to compete like that.”
And what do the Cats do for an encore, after winning the championship last season?
“Last season, we reached the highest level that you can get to,” Tealer said. “For us, (this season is) going to be a lot about leadership. I’m excited to see about it.”
Now that she is a junior, Tealer will be more of a leader for the team. She’s ready to assume that responsibility.
“It has normally been (lead) by example but now, I’m a junior so it’s going to have to be me telling them what’s right and what’s not,” Tealer said. “I’m excited to fill that new role.”
With Tealer now having the experience of playing multiple positions, she becomes even more of a threat for Kentucky.
