No. 2 Kentucky volleyball continued its unbeaten start to conference play as it defeated No. 19 Tennessee 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18) in a comeback victory.  

The Cats fell in the first set after losing a 12-6 lead against the Volunteers. To make matters worse, Kentucky’s star outside hitter Eva Hudson rolled her ankle towards the end of the set.  

“The initial shock was really scary,” Hudson said. “Then the fact that we started the second set and I wasn’t on the court was even scarier.” 

Despite the injury, the Cats persevered through the next three sets to come back and get the win. 

In the first set, Kentucky had just 11 kills to Tennessee’s 19 and had a hit percentage of just .200 compared to Tennessee’s .279.  

In the following three sets, Kentucky won by a combined score of 75-59. In those same three sets, the Cats’ hit percentage went up to .259, while the Volunteers went down to .240.  

“I think we were a little stunned initially,” Head Coach Craig Skinner said. “But then it’s just like hey guys, you’re all great volleyball players, you have to do your job, and everyone had to do their job independently and not try to make up for other people.” 

Hudson eventually returned in the second period and dominated throughout the rest of the match. 

Hudson led the team with 19 kills and had a hit percentage of .381 which was second on the team.  

“Eva’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever met,” Kentucky star outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye said. “So, I knew when she came up and said, ‘I’m fine’, maybe she wasn’t fine, but I knew she was going to come back.”  

With the win, Kentucky is now 13-0 in SEC play. 

The Cats will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 14, as they host Oklahoma at 7 p.m. EST.