Cardiac Cats Rally Past Arkansas Yet Again

There’s something about the big moment that seems to bring out the best in the 2021 Kentucky volleyball team. When faced with a make-or-break opportunity, the Cats seem to almost always be able to come through in the clutch.

That was the case again on Saturday night as Kentucky rallied from being down two sets to one

Trailing 12-10 in the fifth set, Kentucky needed to make a couple of plays just to stay in the match. And the Cats did exactly that.

First, it was a strong kill by junior Azhani Tealer that got UK within a point, 12-11. Then, Tealer came up with a miracle dig that led to an Arkansas hitting error, which tied the set at 12-12.

After the Cats fell behind 14-13 and faced match point against, it was Madi Skinner who came up with a big kill to tie the final set at 14 apiece.

On the next point, it was a stuff block by Alli Stumler and Bella Bell that gave the Cats a 15-14 lead and a match point of their own.

And it was Stumler, the senior All-American, who finished off the comeback with a kill from the left side as the Cats took the final set 16-14 and remained unbeaten in the conference.

Stumler knows that, no matter the situation, her teammates must remain confident.

“Just trying to bring confidence. Straight, honest, authentic confidence,” Stumler said. “Just bringing that calm confidence. Obviously, the hype is going to come but having to remain calm and fired up at the same time. Somehow, we’re trying to get that point across.”

UK head coach Craig Skinner was pleased that his team was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat yet again on Saturday.

“We stepped up when we needed to,” Skinner said. “That was a tough match to win and we pulled it out.”

Skinner knows that something the Cats work on in practice is paying off in these pressure situations.

“I think they know that their teammates have their back and they trust that they are there for them,” Skinner said. “We encourage them to go for it. You’re going to put your head on the pillow and feel pretty good at night if you go for it. We encourage them to expand their range and see what they’ve got in practice. But you’re going to expand their range and figure out a way to score when they need to under pressure. And they’ve thrived so far in that situation.”

On Friday night, the Cats also needed a fifth set to hold off Arkansas, ultimately winning the final frame 15-8 and taking the victory.

The challenge to make big plays in big moments has been amplified this season after the Cats won the national championship last year and are the only undefeated team in the SEC this season. And while that pressure adds up, Kentucky seems to always be up to the challenge in front of them. The proved that again this week with five-set wins on both Friday and Saturday.