Emma Grome Directing Potent UK Offensive Attack

Perhaps no player in the country had bigger shoes to fill this season than Kentucky freshman Emma Grome. Her task was to replace last season’s national player of the year, Madison Lilley, who led UK to the 2020 NCAA championship.

Grome was named the starting setter for Kentucky in the preseason and was immediately thrown into the fire. She led her team into hostile environments as the Cats visited Wisconsin and Louisville, both top-five teams in the country.

But from the beginning, Grome embraced her leadership role with this team. And she has continued to improve as the season has moved forward.

“I’d say from the beginning, I felt like it was my team,” Grome said. “I felt like it’s my job to step in and be the best leader I can be.”

Grome entered the week sixth in the country in assists, averaging 11.42 per set. She is the only freshman in the top 10 in the nation in that category.

She has also led the UK offense to big numbers along the way. The Cats entered this week seventh in the country in hitting percentage at .290. UK has hit over .300 in its last five matches and Grome has averaged about 12 assists per set in those five matches. That’s no coincidence.

“There’s definitely a correlation there,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said. “The less errors you have, the better chance you have for a higher hitting percentage. Emma sets a hitter’s ball and when we’re in rhythm, it’s very difficult to defend.”

Grome again led the attack in Saturday’s three-set win over Texas A&M at Memorial Coliseum. She had 35 assists in Saturday’s win and added six digs and a pair of kills for good measure.

Skinner liked the chemistry between Grome and Madi Skinner on Saturday.

“Offensively, it was nice to see Emma and Madi having a nice connection,” Skinner said. “We’ve been working on our tempo and rhythm out there. Having that connection really opens up a lot of other things.”

For Grome, the connection with her teammates continues to grow.

“It’s getting better and better every day,” Grome said. “We’ve been working on a little bit of a higher tempo. I think that works really well because it lets the hitters get every angle possible.”

Madi Skinner agrees with her setter.

“We’ve been working on being higher but also keeping good pace,” Madi Skinner said. “That allows me to see the block a little bit better and hit over it, so it’s been good.”

Craig Skinner has seen Grome improve steadily throughout the season, but especially lately.

“She’s put herself where she feels like, in her shoes, in the last month or so,” Skinner said. “I don’t care if you’re a returning setter and you have returning players or a new setter and returning players, it still takes time. Emma’s doing a phenomenal job of getting her feet to the ball and developing that connection. I would say in the last month, it’s become very consistent.”

Grome now finds herself squarely in the mix for All-SEC and All-American honors. She will be one of the favorites to win SEC Setter of the Year. But most of all, she finds joy in what she does.

“I just enjoy playing the game,” Grome said. “It’s fun being around such a good group of people and playing the sport that I love. I can’t help but smile.”

The way Grome and the Cats are playing has the Big Blue Nation smiling as well.