Volleyball Cats Show No Rust in Sweep of LSU
Since the SEC volleyball season resumed on Jan. 29, Kentucky has played just four matches in five weeks. Each of those matches have been three-set sweeps, meaning that the Cats have played 12 sets of volleyball in the last three months. That’s not exactly a formula for staying sharp.
There was some concern that the team might show some rust in Friday’s match against LSU, Kentucky’s first match since Feb. 14. Instead, third-ranked Kentucky came out of the gates sharp, scoring the first five points of the match and building an early 12-4 lead in set one. The Cats would win the first set 25-12 on their way to a three-set sweep of LSU and a 13th straight win to start the season.
UK head coach Craig Skinner admitted that, before the match, he didn’t know what to expect from his team on Friday.
“I wasn’t sure. I thought we had practiced well and had some great scrimmages in practice,” Skinner said. “I didn’t feel like we were going to be rusty in terms of effort and playing the game. But you never know. But to be that clean offensively was a testament to our players and passers and Madison (Lilley) for doing the right thing at the right time.”
The Cats put on an offensive display in Friday’s match. Kentucky hit .463 as a team in the match.
Sophomore Azhani Tealer led the UK attack with an incredible stat line. Tealer had 14 kills and only one error on 16 swings. That equates to an .812 hitting percentage. That was the highest hitting percentage by a UK player since Kaz Brown hit .818 against LSU in 2017.
Skinner knows that Tealer brings a lot to the team.
“Attacking-wise, Azhani is one of the most versatile attackers that we’ve had in this program,” Skinner said. “She just gets it done.”
Tealer had kills on her first six attempts and, one might say, she was in the zone.
“After the first set, I was kind of feeling it,” Tealer said. “Madison is an incredible setter. Really a team effort. It was fun to be back in Memorial.”
Tealer was not expecting the team to show any signs of rust.
“No, I don’t think so. We’ve been working really hard in the gym, making sure we’re not getting rusty,” Tealer said. “I think all of the hard work we’ve put in the last couple of weeks showed tonight.”
Junior Alli Stumler led the team with 19 kills on Friday. She also hit a season-high .529. She did not anticipate any rust from the team because of the work they have done in practice.
“Obviously, it’s very frustrating when you hear that a game has to be canceled,” Stumler said. “That’s really frustrating but I think the mindset of this team is so awesome. We’re just looking toward our next moment. We decided to keep focusing on the next time we could be back in Memorial or wherever we were playing. I think that’s awesome and it showed tonight.”
The Cats may have had nearly three weeks without a match, but there was no sign of rust in Friday’s win over LSU.
