In a stunning reversal of fortune, No. 12 Kentucky volleyball saw its 22-match win streak against Auburn come to a screeching halt Friday night. The Wildcats squandered a 2-0 lead, falling to the Tigers 3-2 (21-25, 18-25, 25-16, 25-20, 18-16) in a heart-stopping SEC opener at Neville Arena.
The collapse marked Kentucky’s second such meltdown this season, a troubling trend for a program that hadn’t surrendered a 2-0 advantage since 2011 prior to this year. With the loss, the reeling Wildcats have dropped four straight, sitting at an uncharacteristic 6-6 on the season.
Despite the setback, Emma Grome etched her name in the UK record books, surpassing Madison Lilley for most career matches with 40+ assists. Grome’s 57th such performance came in the fourth set, a bittersweet milestone in defeat.
Brooklyn DeLeye led the Wildcat attack with 20 kills, including several clutch swings in a nail-biting fifth set. But Auburn’s defense rose to the occasion, stuffing Kentucky twice in a decisive 3-0 run to clinch their first victory over UK since 2010.
“We’ve got to find a way to finish,” said a visibly frustrated Coach Craig Skinner. “This team has the talent, but we’re beating ourselves with errors at crucial moments.”
The road doesn’t get any easier for Kentucky, as they face No. 15 Florida on Sunday in a clash of SEC titans. The 1 p.m. ET showdown in Gainesville will air on ESPN, with Courtney Lyle and Holly McPeak on the call.
