DeLeye, Wilson Impress as No. 23 Kentucky Wins Second Straight

For the first time this season, the No. 23 Kentucky volleyball team saw two Wildcats total at least 20 terminations in the same match as the Cats downed Alabama in Tuscaloosa in four sets (25-21, 25-14, 19-25, 25-16).

For the second straight match, outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye ended the day with 25 kills. After setting a career-high with 25 kills Friday night through five sets against Georgia, DeLeye picked up right where she left off in Sunday’s match against the Crimson Tide. The freshman recorded 25 kills with only five errors on a .357 clip and picked up her second career double-double with 10 digs in the winning effort as well. 

But it wasn’t just DeLeye who saw success Sunday. Junior Megan Wilson played her best match in a Wildcat uniform, adding a career-high 20 kills with only four errors on a .390 hitting clip. For a team that has struggled mightily at times to get production from its left side, the Cats’ outside hitters proved to be the difference in the match. 

Setter Emma Grome had another terrific day quarterbacking the Kentucky offense as she dished out 58 assists and helped the Cats finish the day with 66 total kills on a .306 clip. Outside of DeLeye and Wilson’s production, three other Wildcats registered at least five kills as Elise Goetzinger had 9, Jordyn Williams had 6, and Azhani Tealer had 5.

Eleanor Beavin and Grome led the Cats on the back line as the juniors each picked up 11 digs on the afternoon. Molly Tuozzo and Audrey Whitworth each had nine, and Wilson and Williams added two apiece.

At the net Williams recorded a match-high four rejections with Wilson and Tealer each adding two. The Cats held Alabama to .188 hitting in the match and limited the Crimson Tide to just 5 kills with four errors in the game-clinching fourth set. 

Audrey Whitworth had another impressive day from behind the service line as she led all players with three aces. Tuozzo and Williams added two of their own, and Grome and Beavin each picked up one. 

With the victory, improves to 5-7 on the season and 3-1 in SEC play. The result marks the first time the Cats have picked up consecutive wins so far this season. They’ll be back in action Friday as they travel to Columbia, Mo. for a clash with Missouri. First serve against Missouri is set for 7:30 pm.