Volleyball remains undefeated in conference

By Lamar Smith

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The only tide rolling today was UK as the No. 21 Cats dispatched the Crimson Tide (25-19, 27-25, 24-26, 25-20)to win the team’s seventh consecutive match. The four-set victory improves the Cats to 11-5 and 4-0 in the SEC.

Alabama fought tooth and nail versus the Cats in a game that consisted of 41 ties and 18 lead changes in the four-set match. The two teams were tied in the second set eight consecutive times before the Cats clinched the set due to an Alabama hitting error.

“Alabama’s an extremely athletic team, and there’s a reason they were picked to finish second in the league,” head coach Craig Skinner said. “We really struggled to terminate the ball in the first couple of sets, so for us to have 19 in the fourth set was much needed offense.”

Three UK players recorded double-digit kills: Outside hitter Anni Thomasson, outside hitter Darian Mack and middle blocker Brooke Morgan. Thomasson had a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. Mack had a near double-double with 8 digs and 12 kills , while Morgan also had 12 kills.

Coach Skinner talked about the adjustments made and the growth of his team during the winning-streak.

“We didn’t have our whole team in practice or training so in the last two or three weeks we had everybody in practice because of some injuries so it is as much about being able to train the things we have been doing well like blocking, like serving and like playing defense,” Skinner said.

Mack contributed her recent success on the strong chemistry developed with senior setter Morgan Bergren (42 assists and 9 digs) and sophomore libero Ashley Dusek (5 assists and 18 digs).

“I definitely give props to our setter, Morgan,” Mack said. “I think she makes great decisions and we definitely been working on timing and just getting everything right far as hitting so props to her. Just our libero Ashley she helps me out in practice she’s figured out places you know where to read the hitters on the other side just to get good digs.”

The Cats will look to keep their winning streak alive as the team faces Arkansas on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.