UK volleyball secures Sweet 16 trip with a rout. Here’s how the Cats got it done.
The University of Kentucky volleyball team is two steps away from reaching the Final Four for the first time.
The No. 9-seeded Wildcats swept unseeded Michigan 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, securing the program’s sixth Sweet Sixteen appearance under 15th-year head coach Craig Skinner.
Kentucky (25-6) was ranked No. 11 in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll. Michigan was No. 22.
Led by first-team All-Southeastern Conference honorees Leah Edmond and Alli Stumler, Kentucky’s front line dominated the Wolverines, routinely hammering home emphatic kills and blocking numerous Michigan (21-11) scoring attempts above the net. Edmond had a match-high 15 kills while Stumler added 11. Leah Meyer, a graduate transfer who spent her first three seasons at Duke, had a match-high seven blocks.
In the first set, the Cats crept out to a 6-5 lead. Then they hit a new gear, going on a 6-0 run to push ahead 12-5. During that stretch, Kentucky (25-6) scored on a long volley that included a fantastic dig by Madison Lilley. On the next possession a block by Stumler netted a point. A diving dig by Edmond that led to a spike from Stumler capped the run and prompted a timeout from Michigan Coach Mark Rosen.
Moments later Edmond and Stumler combined on a block that led to a second timeout by Michigan (21-11), then Edmond clinched the set with her fifth kill of the night, drawing a sustained ovation from the healthy and highly partisan crowd.
“I’m pleased with the way our team came out ready,” said Skinner. “I think our team sent a message early on in the match that we were here to play ... The first 10 points obviously set the tone for how we wanted to compete.”
Edmond finished off the second set as well, ramming home her 10th kill off a set from Lilley. Michigan stayed within one or two points of the Cats for much of the third set before UK went on a 5-1 run to end the match.
Skinner said the Wildcats’ defense was a big reason they were able to stave off every run by the Wolverines.
“Michigan is a great team and they’ve proven all year long (they can) kill the ball at a high rate and terminate plays. To be able to hold a team like Michigan to only 37 kills in a three-set match is a heck of a defensive effort,” Skinner said. “If you want to advance in the tournament you have to be able to play good defense and that was a big part of tonight’s match.”
Saturday marked the final home match for Edmond, Meyer and UK’s other seniors — Caitlyn Cooper and Kylie Schmaltz. Following the victory, Edmond said it got to her when a few teammates mentioned before the game that this would be her final hurrah before a home crowd.
“I got emotional right then, which I didn’t need before a game. But I think it just made me play a little harder because I know it’s my last time ever doing anything like that on that court again,” she said. “It was a bittersweet moment. It was sweet because we won, but then it hit me when Kylie was like ‘Leah, that was our last game.’ And of course, I started crying again. That’s the most crying I’ve ever done ... (but) my eyes aren’t red and mascara’s not running, it’s fine.”
Kentucky will be part of a four-team regional hosted by Baylor, the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, in Waco, Texas. The Cats will face No. 8 Washington in the Sweet Sixteen while Baylor will take on No. 16 Purdue, with the winners meeting in the regional final for a spot in the Final Four in Pittsburgh, Pa. Dates and times for the matches in Waco have not yet been announced.
Cats sweep SEMO
UK’s postseason run got off to a good start on Friday. The Wildcats swept Southeast Missouri in the first round to set up Saturday’s showdown with the Wolverines, who earlier swept Northern Kentucky.
Against Southeast Missouri, Edmond led the Wildcats with 18 kills. She helped UK jump out to a 15-9 lead in the first set. The Redhawks pulled within 22-19 before the Cats scored three of the next four points, capped by kills from Cooper and Kendyl Paris.
The Redhawks gave UK little trouble in the second set, but drew within 19-17 in set No. 3 before back-to-back points from Cooper and Paris steadied the Cats.
After Friday’s win, Skinner said UK’s versatility gives it a major edge.
“That’s the nice thing about how we play. There’s no real set way we have to play. Obviously, Leah and Alli get a lot of swings, but when our other attackers get involved … and Madison gives them the ball, they’re going to get a lot of opportunities one-on-one.”
This story was originally published December 7, 2019 at 8:50 PM.
