Tuozzo Ready to Add to Legacy During Senior Season
Kentucky volleyball libero Molly Tuozzo readily admits that she’s in a different place now than she was as a freshman. Tuozzo has come out of her shell to be one of the strongest leaders on the team, which is not a place she thought she would be just three years ago. What has brought this change about?
“I would say just the confidence that all of the coaches instill in me and then the experience and kind of maturing and growing up,” Tuozzo said. “I used to be so afraid to have a conversation with an adult. Now, I could talk to literally anyone for forever.”
Tuozzo admits that being vocal, in addition to leading by example, can be very effective. She’s now mentoring two younger back-line players in sophomore Trinity Ward and freshman Sydney Burley and she’s showing them with her play, and telling them with her words, how to get better every day.
“I would say a little bit of both,” Tuozzo said when asked if she leads by words or actions. “Craig always talks about how the bros (liberos) are literally just flying everywhere all the time. So, that effort piece of, I don’t care where the ball is, I want to go for it. I want to at least put a body on the floor if the ball is dropping and try to get a touch. I think that kind of lead by example is what I strive for. Also, being a bro, you kind of have to use your voice. I learned that a long time ago. So, just giving them the confidence to use their voice.”
Heading into her senior season, Tuozzo, along with fellow seniors Molly Berezowitz, Lizzie Carr and Brooklyn DeLeye, having begun thinking about their legacy, which includes an appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament championship match. What is Tuozzo hoping to leave as her mark on the program?
“I think this is something that everyone talks about but something our senior class, specifically, has been really big on,” Tuozzo said. “Just leaving the place better than we found it. Whether that’s changing up the culture or making it more like a family or trying to better everything in every situation. Then, obviously, giving back to the Big Blue Nation as much as we can.”
As a libero, Tuozzo is not expected to score many points for the Cats. However, one place she can get on the board is at the service line. She’s 19 assists from breaking the UK rally scoring era record for career aces, something she should accomplish in 2026. How does she feel about that?
“I’m super excited and that only motivates me more to do it now,” Tuozzo said. “I think bros don’t really get to score points. We get digs but we don’t get credit for it all the time. So, I feel like serving is a really big piece that I’ve taken pride in. Just putting as much pressure as I can on (the opponent) because I can’t score points. Serving is all on me, just trying to put my team in a better spot every time I’m serving.”
Tuozzo has turned defense and serving into an art during her UK career. And with one season to go, the Kentucky program is better having had Tuozzo in the blue and white.
