Kentucky’s libero and defensive specialist Molly Tuozzo showed out in the Bluegrass Battle over the past weekend. 

The Cats went 3-0, dominating the three teams they saw including two sweeps.

Despite not playing libero in Kentucky’s first two games, UK head coach Craig Skinner gave Tuozzo the opportunity against Western Kentucky and Morehead State. She made the most of it, looking like one of the best players on the court in both games, setting a career-high with eight assists against WKU and tying a career-high in digs with 16 against Morehead State. 

“I know it’s a big role to fill, so I’ve been trying to do my best to fill that role,” she said. “Be loud, be a leader for my teammates. It’s been great.”

With the success of Tuozzo, Skinner will be faced with a difficult decision on who to play at the libero going forward as normal starter Eleanor Beavin was on the Preseason All-SEC Team. 

“It’s not easy because they both could be libero for 99% of the teams in the country,” Skinner said after the WKU game. “We are lucky to have two of them.”

That decision won’t be any easier for Skinner as the Cats face off against No. 7 Penn State on Friday. While a tough choice, both answers could hardly be described as a wrong one.

Tuozzo was a highly sought-after recruit after having an outstanding high school career. She logged over 1,000 career digs in her time at The Woodlands High School in Texas where she broke the all-time school record for digs and aces.

As a freshman, Tuozzo continued to thrive, logging 2.20 digs per set and was Kentucky’s leading ace-getter with 0.30 aces a game.

With that in mind, she will only look to get better and become one of the best defensive players in the entire country as the schedule gets more difficult.

Kentucky volleyball will return to action on Friday, Sept. 6, against the top ten Penn State Nittany Lions. First serve is expected to take place at 7 p.m. ET and will air live on the SEC Network.