The No. 9 Kentucky volleyball team secured its fifth win of the season on Sunday, sweeping Ball State 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-13) behind a standout performance from outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye. DeLeye registered 12 kills while hitting .435, leading the Wildcats to victory in front of over 1,900 fans at Historic Memorial Coliseum.
Offensive Dominance
Kentucky posted a season-high .412 hitting percentage with 42 kills and only nine errors. DeLeye’s 12 kills were the most by any player in the match, while seven different Wildcats contributed offensively. Senior outside hitter Erin Lamb was instrumental from the service line, recording a career-high six aces, helping the Wildcats tally 12 aces in total.
Strong Defensive Performance
The Wildcats’ defense was led by Molly Tuozzo, who set a new career-high with 22 digs, along with three assists. Megan Wilson anchored the defense at the net, collecting a season-high four blocks, while Brooke Bultema and Kennedy Washington each added multiple blocks to keep Ball State’s attack at bay.
Senior Setter Emma Grome Shines
Senior setter Emma Grome continued her excellent start to the season, dishing out 37 assists on Kentucky’s 42 kills, orchestrating a well-balanced offensive effort.
Set One Recap
Kentucky started strong, jumping out to a 9-3 lead after a 4-0 service run by DeLeye, which included an ace and two kills from Kennedy Washington. Ball State fought back to close the gap to 13-10, but Kentucky responded and took the set 25-17 on Ball State’s fifth attack error. DeLeye’s four kills and Tuozzo’s seven digs paced Kentucky in the first frame.
Set Two Recap
Ball State put up a fight in the second set, leading by as many as three points early. However, Kentucky clawed back, taking a 15-14 lead after a Ball State net violation. A late 6-1 run, capped by a Washington kill, secured the second set for the Wildcats, 25-21, giving them a 2-0 lead.
Set Three Recap
Erin Lamb’s serving was pivotal in the third set as she recorded four aces during a 12-0 run to start the frame. Kentucky dominated from the first point, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout. The Wildcats closed out the sweep with a commanding 25-13 third set victory.
Next Up for Kentucky
With the win, Kentucky improved to 5-2 on the season and completed a six-match homestand. The Wildcats will now head to Dallas, Texas, for a tournament hosted by Southern Methodist University. They will face the hosts on Friday night and either Purdue or Houston on Saturday, depending on the outcome of the opening matches.
