Beavin, UK Defense Dominate Texas A&M Again Sunday

The Kentucky volleyball team put on a dazzling display of defense on Sunday on their way to sweeping Texas A&M for the second straight day.

Kentucky had its block game going, with 12 blocks as a team in the match. The Cats also had 44 digs, with four players having at least seven scoops.

UK head coach Craig Skinner was impressed with his team’s defensive effort Sunday.

“Great defensive performance today,” Skinner said. “Just proud of our concentration. We’re getting a lot more competitively mature and that’s big as we go down to the end of the season.”

When asked what the opponents are supposed to do when the Cats are so good at both blocking and playing back line defense, Skinner paused, then answered.

“Today, I guess, we were pretty good,” the UK head coach said. “You can’t prepare for a good defense. You can prepare for someone’s offense, you cannot prepare for team defense. It’s just really hard to simulate. When you put balls back on the floor on the other side and you force them to do things they are uncomfortable with, then they start to think. When you think in high level athletics, you get into trouble.”

Bella Bell led the blocking attack with a solo block and eight block assists, while Reagan Rutherford had six block assists.

The UK back line was spectacular again on Sunday, led by freshman libero Eleanor Beavin. The Louisville native had 14 digs in Sunday’s match and has had double-figure digs in 17 out of 18 matches since taking over the libero spot. Beavin entered the week ninth in the SEC in digs per set at 3.39. She would certainly rank higher if the Cats did not terminate the ball as quickly as they often do.

Beavin has also proven to be effective at setting the ball when teams attack UK setter Emma Grome. For Beavin, second-ball setting is an important skill.

“I think we’re one of the best transition teams in the country,” Beavin said. “Second-ball setting is extremely important. I think it’s undervalued on a lot of teams. It’s something that we work on every day. We value it a lot.”

Beavin is certainly not alone on the back line for UK. Sophomore Riah Walker had a big weekend for the Cats as well. On Sunday, Walker had eight digs, an assist and a pair of service aces. Serving is one of the things she does best and works hardest at improving.

“We train serving a lot,” Walker said. “Just keeping it low to the tape and trying to get the opposite side out of system.”

Walker gave credit to her front line for helping to make the back line’s job easier on Sunday.

“I think today, our block was so good, it just made everything flow so easily,” Walker said. “The balls that came to us were touches off the block or just easy to handle. We just kept capitalizing on them and going on runs.”

In addition to Beavin and Walker, the Cats continue to get solid production from senior Lauren Tharp, who had five digs on Saturday and two more on Sunday. And sophomore Maddie Berezowitz has proven to be a solid situational server as well. Skinner knows the depth on the back line is huge for his team.

“I remember talking in preseason that we were going to have as good of a backcourt and defensive team that we’ve had in a long time,” Skinner said. “I think we’re starting to hit our stride that way. (Beavin and Walker) are making plays, along with Tharp. We have lots of options, both in the back court and in the front row. Our depth is what makes us go.”