‘We’re gonna follow you.’ UK volleyball gets a boost from Trinity Ward’s energy
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- Trinity Ward provided contagious energy and positivity during Kentucky practices.
- Ward impacted postseason matches with aggressive serving and six NCAA Tournament aces.
- As a freshman reserve, Ward helped secure SEC titles and advance Kentucky to Final Four.
Over the summer, to a roster packed with experienced, All-Conference and All-America honorees, true freshman Trinity Ward would enter the weight room much cheerier than her teammates for a 6 a.m. Kentucky volleyball workout.
“Let’s get it, guys!” the freshman said, beaming.
Established senior outside hitter and UK newcomer Eva Hudson recalled the freshman’s bright personality and enthusiasm to be there, even though, to many, it was just another preseason lift.
“I’m like, ‘OK! I kind of want to punch you right now, but we’re gonna follow you,’” Hudson said. “It’s really cool to see a freshman. And it also kind of humbles me, too, as a senior, where everything kind of gets a little repetitive, and to see her have such energy for every single thing, like it’s contagious. So yeah, couldn’t be more thankful for her.”
From Holy Cross High (Louisville) to the University of Kentucky, Ward — whom Hudson lovingly called UK’s “biggest talker on the team by a million miles,” — never fails to bring the energy.
“You can always count on her to bring energy and bring positivity to the team,” Hudson said.
It may be because, during No. 1 UK volleyball’s magical 2025 season, Ward is achieving multiple lifelong dreams: play volleyball for the Kentucky Wildcats, and compete for a national championship.
In year one, the 5-foot-7 reserve has donned her beloved Blue and White, but also had the opportunity to learn from veterans like SEC Tournament MVP Molly Tuozzo, and reliable junior Molly Berezowitz. Ward has played a role in UK’s ninth consecutive SEC regular-season championship, its SEC Tournament title and its current quest for a second national championship, and first since 2020.
Fellow freshman Kassie O’Brien, the team’s starting setter and the SEC Freshman of the Year, won the starting job in the program’s first competition in nearly a decade. But Ward, especially as the season has progressed, proves O’Brien isn’t the only Kentucky freshman capable of impacting a match.
On the court, it’s always been Ward’s serve that’s set her apart. It’s part of what’s earned her opportunities this season, despite a high school career spent playing outside hitter.
Star junior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye praised Ward’s willingness to work hard, even when the opportunities were limited.
“She’s just a kid that always has no fear out there,” DeLeye said. “And, I mean, you just see it in practice all the time. She will put the hardest serve on you every time, and so that just makes us passers even better. So I mean, it’s good having her on our side so that she’s going at the other team, but yeah, just don’t have enough praise for her because she seriously is one of the best teammates out there.”
Across the Wildcats’ four NCAA Tournament matches so far, Ward has subbed in for 12 of 13 possible sets and recorded six aces, including three during Kentucky’s 3-0 sweep of Cal Poly in the Sweet 16.
In the Wildcats’ 3-0 sweep of Creighton in the Elite Eight, Ward recorded one ace, and kept a high-energy match moving in the Wildcats’ favor by playing unafraid and creating additional separation with her serve.
“She’s just one of the hardest workers out there,” DeLeye said. “And I (knew) when she got her shot to come in to serve, like she was going to make the most out of it. So I mean, just props to her and just the person she is because she was just a huge momentum shift, whether that’s with her serving or just her presence out there.”
Ward will continue to “make the most” out of her freshman campaign in Thursday’s 9 p.m. Final Four match against Wisconsin. The winner will advance to Sunday’s national championship and play the victor of Pitt and Texas A&M.
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
