Kentucky volleyball finished SEC play with a 15-0 record, its first undefeated conference season since 2018. Here’s a look at how the Wildcats ran the table. Kentucky wrapped up nonconference play at 7-2, with losses to No. 1 Nebraska in five sets and No. 7 Pittsburgh in a sweep. The Wildcats also earned three top-10 wins, beating No. 5 Penn State, No. 10 SMU and No. 3 Louisville to prepare for SEC play. Kentucky opened the conference schedule with three consecutive sweeps over South Carolina, Georgia and Ole Miss. The Wildcats’ first major test came on the road at No. 9 Texas A&M, where they won 3-1. After dropping the first set 25-21, Kentucky responded by taking the next three. SEC Player of the Year Eva Hudson led the Wildcats with 24 kills. Following the Texas A&M victory, Kentucky swept LSU behind 20 kills from Brooklyn DeLeye. The Wildcats then beat Auburn 3-1, with Hudson posting 25 kills. Kentucky’s next challenge came against Florida, which pushed the Wildcats to five sets for the first time in SEC play. Trailing 2-1, Kentucky rallied behind its star outside hitters. Hudson and DeLeye combined for 41 kills and 23 digs, lifting Kentucky to a 3-2 win. After searching for a consistent counterpart to DeLeye in previous seasons, the Wildcats found one in Hudson, forming one of the nation’s most dominant duos. “Last year, if Brooklyn had an off night, we would’ve struggled to win,” Head Coach Craig Skinner said. “Now, with Eva in the mix, we always have another go-to option. That’s what makes this team so dangerous.” Kentucky cruised through its next three matches, beating Mississippi State 3-1 and sweeping Alabama along with Vanderbilt ahead of a marquee matchup with No. 2 Texas. The Wildcats went to Austin and stunned the Longhorns in a sweep. Hudson was sharp, hitting . 452 with just one error, finishing with 20 kills and 10 digs for her fifth double-double. DeLeye added 18 kills on . 417 hitting with nine digs, providing key swings late in the second and third sets. The win allowed Kentucky to control its path to a ninth straight SEC championship. Kentucky followed with a 3-1 win at Missouri, powered again by its outside hitters. Hudson led with 21 kills, and DeLeye added 20. The Wildcats then beat No. 19 Tennessee 3-1 in front of a sold-out crowd of 6, 236 at historic Memorial Coliseum the third-largest regular-season home crowd in program history. “Without Big Blue Nation today, I’m not sure we get through and weather that storm,” Skinner said after that match. “Super proud that people want to come and watch us play.” Kentucky faced its biggest scare of conference play in its next match, falling behind 2-0 for the first time before rallying to win 28-26 in the third set and taking the next two to stay unbeaten. The Wildcats closed the regular season by sweeping Arkansas on senior day. Hudson, the team’s lone senior, led the way with 15 kills. Kentucky earned the No. 1 seed in the SEC tournament with its undefeated record, securing a double bye. The Wildcats will face No. 8 seed Auburn on Sunday, Nov. 24, with first serve slated for noon ET.
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