DeLeye’s Career Night Powers No. 9 Kentucky Past WKU

Thanks to a career day from sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, the No. 9 Kentucky volleyball team picked up a 3-1 victory (25-18, 19-25, 25-16, 25-16) over Western Kentucky Saturday night to pick up its second win in as many days inside Memorial Coliseum. 

DeLeye paced the Cats all evening long as she totaled a career high 26 kills on a .480 clip with only two errors. The sophomore also added nine digs, an assist, a service ace, and a block in the winning effort. 

Following the match, DeLeye said that having a year of playing under her belt has dramatically improved her confidence and, as a result, her level of play.

“I think having that year of experience really has helped,” DeLeye said. “I know some people say that and really don’t mean it, but it truly has helped. I think my awareness on the court has grown so much in the past year and I think that’s really contributed to it. 

Senior setter Emma Grome paced the Kentucky offense to a .299 hitting clip and dished out a match-high 44 assists. The Cats totaled 61 kills as a team and five players finished with three or more terminations. 

Two more Wildcats eclipsed double figures against the Hilltoppers, as Brooke Bultema and Erin Lamb each finished with 11 kills. Rounding out the scoring, Megan Wilson added five kills, Grome had three, Jordyn Dailey and Asia Thigpen each had two, and Kennedy Washington had one. 

Kentucky continued its strong defensive start as they held WKU to a hitting clip of just .178 and forced the Hilltoppers into 19 hitting errors. The Cats piled up 8.0 team blocks, led by Brooke Bultema’s 4.0. Wilson and Lamb each had three, and Dailey and Washington both had one. 

Sophomore Molly Tuozzo got the start at the libero position Saturday and she finished the match with a team-high 15 digs. Grome had 12 to record her first double-double of the season, DeLeye had nine, Thigpen added eight, and Beavin had five. 

Following the match, UK head coach Craig Skinner cited the luxury of having both Tuozzo and Beavin as options at libero and how difficult it is to decide which one will don the jersey every match. 

“It’s not easy because they both could be libero for 99% of the teams in the country,” Skinner said. “We’re lucky to have two of them.”

With the win, Kentucky improves to 2-1 on the season. They will conclude the first week of play Sunday at home in another in-state clash, this time against Morehead State. First serve is set for 1:00 pm and will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.