No. 3 seeded Kentucky volleyball (22-7, 14-2 SEC) defeated No. 6 seeded Minnesota (21-11, 13-7 Big 10) 3-1 (25-11, 23-25, 25-22, 25-24) to advance to the regional semifinal in the NCAA Tournament.

Emma Grome recorded 51 assists to become Kentucky’s all-time assists leader in the rally-scoring era with 4,962 assists. Grome set the record on her last play in Historic Memorial Coliseum, assisting on a kill to force match point. This was the 30th match of Gromes career with 50 assists or more.

“She’s an amazing setter, she broke a record tonight. That’s a big deal,” Brooklyn DeLeye said. “I think no one recognizes the hard work she puts in; she really makes all of us hitters look really good out there.”

The Wildcats started set one on a 6-1 run thanks to DeLeye’s four kills, forcing Minnesota to call its first timeout of the set.

Kentucky stayed hot following the Gophers second timeout by going on a 10-6 run to force set point at 24-11. The Gophers attempted to fight back, scoring on back-to-back rallies, however it wasn’t nearly enough as DeLeye recorded her eighth kill of the set to win set one 25-11.

The Wildcats were dominant in set one, hitting .516% as a team with 18 kills. Kentucky also recorded four team blocks and held Minnesota to a .040% hitting percentage with five errors.

The second set started much closer than the first, as neither team held a lead larger than one, until Minnesota went on a 3-1 run to break a 7-7 tie. The Wildcats responded with a 5-1 run of their own to regain the lead at 13-11, forcing Minnesota to call its first timeout of the set.

Kentucky stayed hot following the timeout with a 3-0 run that caused Minnesota to call its second timeout of the set, trailing by five.

The Gophers bounced back after their timeout, coming out on a 7-2 run to erase the Wildcats lead and force their first timeout of the set at 18-17.

Minnesota held on to its lead following the timeout and forced Kentucky to call another timeout trailing 22-20. The Gophers kept the pressure on after the second timeout forcing set point at 24-23.

A service error by the Wildcats gave Minnesota the second set 25-23 tying the match 1-1.

Kentucky struggled in the second set with a hitting percentage of .235 and six errors. Minnesota improved on a rough first set with a hitting percentage of .314, recording 14 kills and just three errors.

After a close start, the Wildcats broke a 3-3 tie with a 7-2 run led by two kills from both Erin Lamb and Jordyn Dailey. This forced Minnesota to take its first timeout of the set trailing 10-5.

The Golden Gophers cut the Cats’ lead to two, which forced a Wildcat timeout.

The Wildcats returned to form following their timeout with a 4-2 run resulting in the second timeout of the set for Minnesota trailing 18-14.

Following Minnesota’s timeout, the Wildcats forced set point at 24-22. Dailey and Grome assisted on a block that allowed for a set three win for the Wildcats.

Lamb shined in set three, leading the Wildcats with five kills. Dailey provided support with three kills on a perfect 1.000% hitting percentage.

The fourth set began with seven ties and neither team holding a lead larger than two until the Wildcats tied the set at 12-12, kicking off a 3-0 run. This resulted in Minnesota calling its first timeout of the set down 14-12.

After a 2-0 run by Kentucky, Minnesota responded with a 3-0 run to force Kentucky’s first timeout of the set.

Minnesota was unfazed by the timeout, going on a 5-2 run coming out of it. This forced Kentucky to take its second timeout of the set after losing its lead and trailing 20-18.

Kentucky fought back to even the set back up at 21-21 and proceeded to retake the lead at 23-22 which led to the second timeout of the set for Minnesota. 

Kentucky forced match point, but Minnesota tied it once again before the Wildcats ended the match with a 2-0 run.

DeLeye carried the attack for the Wildcats in the fourth set recording a team high six kills and the teams only service ace of the set. Brooke Bultema and Grome combined for four blocks.

The Wildcats attack had a great night with a team hitting percentage of .326% with 64 kills. Kentucky was led by DeLeye with 22 kills along with Lamb who had 13 kills and Dailey’s nine kills.

“So proud of our group and to be able to hit .326% on a great defensive team like that is big time,” Head Coach Craig Skinner said. “Proud of Erin Lamb, 13 kills almost .400%, Jordyn Dailey .562% … some huge numbers across the board.”

Following the match, Kentucky seniors Grome, Eleanor Beavin, Delaney Hogan, Lamb, Lane Jenkins and Megan Wilson all ran back onto the court. 

The group received one last standing ovation from the fans in Historic Memorial Coliseum. Lamb grabbed a mic and spoke on behalf of the seniors, thanking all the fans for the love and support over the years.

“I didn’t realize, until someone said it to me earlier, it was my last game in Memorial ever … I got kind of emotional,” Grome said. “My four years here have been absolutely incredible. Every year, I just feel like our team grows so much, and the people here are just so awesome.”

The Wildcats will take on No. 7 seeded Missouri with the date, time and location to be announced on Sunday, Dec. 8. Kentucky has swept Missouri in both the teams matches this season.