Volleyball Cats Enjoy 'Surreal' Experience at Wrigley Field
The third-ranked Kentucky volleyball team had a unique experience on Sunday night, topping No. 13 Penn State at Wrigley Field in the Big Ten-SEC Challenge. And the Cats truly knocked it out of the park in the Friendly Confines.
Kentucky’s power hitters were on full display in Sunday’s match. While they may not be Cubs legends Andre Dawson or Sammy Sosa, both Brooklyn DeLeye and Morgan Gaerte had big games at Wrigley. DeLeye had a season-high 21 kills, while adding 10 digs in the match. As long-time Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray would have said about DeLeye’s performance, holy cow.
Gaerte had a season-high 15 kills in the match, hitting .344 and adding six blocks.
There was no better defensive second baseman than Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg, who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kentucky’s defensive standout is Molly Tuozzo, who was on her game in Sunday’s match. Tuozzo had a match-high 19 digs while adding six assists and a service ace.
Pitcher Greg Maddux, who won the Cy Young Award with the Cubs in 1992, was known for his precision control and being able to place the ball exactly where he wanted. UK setter Kassie O’Brien followed Maddux’s lead in Sunday’s match, getting the ball to her best hitters in spots where they could convert. O’Brien had a season-high 48 assists while adding seven digs, three blocks and a service ace.
Every good baseball team has a quality utility player. Ben Zobrist was the MVP of the World Series for the Cubs in 2016 while playing second base, shortstop and in the outfield. On Sunday, Kentucky had several of players take on utility roles that aided in the victory. Lizzie Carr had five kills and six blocks, while defensive specialist Trinity Ward had eight digs for the Cats. Asia Thigpen also got in on the action with 12 kills and nine digs and Kennedy Washington added five blocks.
Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner gave the event at Wrigley Field very high praise. When asked where this event ranks among events he has been a part of, he was very complimentary.
“It’s got to be at the top,” Skinner told the Fox Sports broadcast team. “I don’t know if there’s anything that has surpassed it for the sport and volleyball in general. What a cool moment for everybody.”
DeLeye agreed that this will be a long-lasting memory.
“It’s a surreal experience,” DeLeye said. “We’re just trying to soak it in but I don’t think it can set in until maybe a year down the road. We’re just super grateful to be here and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The night was capped off when UK’s Georgia Watson, who grew up less than 50 miles from Wrigley Field, had two kills in the final set, including the kill that clinched the match.
Kentucky’s experience in Wrigley Field was truly a home run and a moment that none of the players will ever forget.
