After finding themselves on the brink of defeat, the top-seeded Kentucky volleyball team delivered a stunning comeback to claim the 2025 Allstate SEC Volleyball Tournament Championship. The Wildcats erased a two-set deficit to stun third-seeded Texas in a reverse sweep Tuesday night at Enmarket Arena, securing the program’s fourth conference tournament title in five years and the SEC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Texas had Kentucky on the ropes, holding championship point three different times in the third set while leading 24–21. But the Wildcats refused to fold. They rattled off six of the next seven points to steal the set, swing momentum, and give themselves new life. From there, Kentucky seized control, trailing only twice over the final two sets, to complete their second reverse sweep in as many weeks and close out one of the most remarkable rallies in recent program history.
Hudson caps historic run
Reigning SEC Player of the Year Eva Hudson once again led the charge, tallying 25 kills on 70 swings while hitting .300 with 11 digs for her 15th double-double of the season. The performance added another exclamation point to a dominant postseason run.
Lizzie Carr and Brooklyn DeLeye each chipped in 13 kills, while Asia Thigpen turned in a nearly flawless outing, registering 10 kills without an error, hitting .500, and recording four blocks. Setter Kassie O’Brien quarterbacked the offense with a career-high 56 assists as Kentucky hit .277 for the match.
Heading into the night, ESPN’s Charlie Crème projected Kentucky as the No. 2 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, with Texas right behind at No. 3. Tuesday’s showdown lived up to the billing, as both teams entered with fewer than four losses on the season. Texas dropped to 23–3 overall, with two of those losses coming to the Wildcats.
Set-by-set recap
Set 1: Texas jumped out fast, building an 11–5 lead that forced Kentucky into an early timeout. The Longhorns’ attack operated at a blistering .439 efficiency in the opening frame, taking the set 25–19 despite 15 Kentucky kills. Abby Vander Wal and Torrey Stafford combined for 13 kills to pace the Horns.
Set 2: Kentucky answered with early energy, pushing ahead 9–4, but Texas clawed back late. Despite holding a 23–20 lead, the Wildcats couldn’t close it out as Texas strung together a late run to claim the set 28–26. At that point, Kentucky trailed 0–2 and was staring down elimination.
Set 3: Facing championship point at 24–21, Kentucky mounted its defining surge. Thigpen’s kill sealed a 26–24 win as the Wildcats stole the set, their only lead coming on the final point. Hudson’s offense kept UK within striking distance, while the defense dug in to extend the match.
Set 4: The Wildcats dominated from start to finish, never trailing en route to a 25–22 win. Kentucky’s front line disrupted Texas’ rhythm, while Hudson and Carr provided steady offense to even the match at two sets apiece.
Set 5: The finale showcased Kentucky’s resilience. After falling behind 2–0 early, the Wildcats ripped off six of the next seven points to surge ahead 6–3. Leading 11–9, Kentucky closed the championship in emphatic fashion with a 6–0 run behind DeLeye’s serve. Hudson’s final kill sealed the 15–9 victory and brought another trophy back to Lexington.
What’s next
The Wildcats now await their official NCAA Tournament seeding, which will be revealed during the Selection Show on Sunday, November 30, at 6 pm ET on ESPN. With their conference title and momentum riding high, Kentucky looks poised to make a deep postseason push as one of the nation’s top contenders.
