Sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye powered No. 14 Kentucky to a 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-16) win over Georgia on Sunday afternoon at Stegeman Coliseum. With 16 kills, DeLeye was the only player in the match to record double-digit kills, hitting an impressive .464 on 28 attempts, along with six digs. The Wildcats completed their season-long five-match road trip with a flawless 5-0 record, staying in a three-way tie at the top of the Southeastern Conference standings.
Setter Emma Grome orchestrated Kentucky’s offense with a season-high 40 assists in a three-set match, helping the team hit .356 overall. Kentucky’s defense also shone, holding Georgia to a .088 hitting percentage, including a .000 mark in the third set. Jordyn Dailey led the defensive charge with six blocks, including two consecutive blocks to close out the match.
The Wildcats now return home after sweeping four of their five road victories, improving their record to 14-7 overall and 8-2 in SEC play, tying with Missouri (7-2) and Texas at the top of the league. Kentucky will kick off a five-match homestand against Texas A&M on Friday at 7 p.m. ET at Historic Memorial Coliseum, with live coverage on SEC Network+ and ESPN.
Set Summaries
Set One:
Georgia took an early 6-0 lead, but Kentucky fought back with a 5-0 run, tying the set at 9-9 thanks to an Asia Thigpen solo block. The Bulldogs managed to extend their lead to 15-11, but Kentucky continued to rally, tying the score at 19-19. Georgia held a 24-23 lead before Kentucky surged back, winning 26-24 with a key kill by Thigpen, overcoming a six-point deficit to capture the opening set.
Set Two:
Kentucky started strong, with Molly Tuozzo leading the team on a 4-0 run, including an ace. The Wildcats extended their lead to 15-6 before Georgia managed to cut into the deficit briefly. Kentucky’s defense, led by Brooke Bultema’s three blocks, held Georgia to a .087 hitting percentage, allowing the Wildcats to cruise to a 25-15 victory and a 2-0 set lead.
Set Three:
The third set saw a more balanced start, but a 4-0 service run by Tuozzo put Kentucky ahead 14-11. The Wildcats continued to build their lead, with Bultema contributing a key kill to make it 18-13. Kentucky sealed the 25-16 set win and match victory after a timeout and several crucial defensive plays.
With this win, Kentucky sits at a season-high seven games above .500, preparing for an exciting homestand as they continue their strong SEC campaign.
