Cats' Grit Shows Up Again in Semifinal Win Over Wisconsin

All season long, the Kentucky volleyball team has been able to overcome adversity. But perhaps never more than on Thursday night.

Facing a red-hot Wisconsin team that had won 13 consecutive matches, Kentucky found itself on the wrong end of a 25-12 first set. UK head coach Craig Skinner’s message to his team was simple.

“I basically said, Congrats, guys, we couldn’t have played any worse,” Skinner said. “It was honest. And they played great. The only thing we can do is flush it and move on to the next set.”

Kentucky would win that second set 25-22 before dropping the third set 25-21. In the fourth set, UK found it’s grit again, winning 26-24 to force a deciding fifth set. There, the Cats jumped out to a big lead, then hung on to win 15-13.

Skinner marveled at his team’s ability to win despite everything seemingly being against them.

“I’m trying to find stats that we actually led in this match. I finally got to blocks. Well, no. We were close, (smiling),” Skinner said. “But I think the cool thing about this team, I thought we’d done it all and I thought we found every possible way to win, and tonight was a different way.”

Again tonight, Skinner saw his team dig deep and find that little something extra.

“I think the way they played, the heart that they show is immeasurable,” he said. “I keep telling them they’re transformational leaders in the way they go about it, what they’ve done for the sport, especially in Kentucky, but not only there, around the country. Proud of them. But the job isn’t finished.”

Skinner was asked what it was about this team that allowed them to continue to fight back, even when the situation seems dire.

“They just collectively as a group of 14 have an amazing ability to all we can do is control the next whistle,” he said. “I wish I could tell you a magical thing and why. Mentally tough kids, too, it takes to win a match like that.”

Junior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye knows that the team’s grit has present all season.

“I think just the grit piece has just been there all along,” she said. “I think that just comes from practice every day. We’re just wanting to get better. We’ve just done a good job in not forgetting how we got here. I think that just really pulled through.”

The Cats found a way again on Thursday night when facing difficult circumstances. If they can do it again on Sunday against Texas A&M, it will mean a national title will be coming home to Lexington.