Kentucky volleyball is coming off an impressive season, finishing 25-2 with an undefeated 15-0 SEC record.
The team was ranked No. 2 nationally entering the NCAA Tournament and earned one of four No. 1 regional seeds. The Wildcats’ incredible season ultimately ended with a loss to Texas A&M in the NCAA championship match.
Eva Hudson, the team captain, played a major role in the Wildcats’ remarkable season. Hudson was named SEC Player of the Year and AVCA South Region Player of the Year. She also earned AVCA First-Team All-American honors and was named the AVCA National Player of the Year.
Hudson finished the season with 504 kills, second on the team, averaging 4.54 kills per set. Her impact extended beyond the offensive side of the court. Hudson also contributed defensively and as a playmaker, averaging 2.42 digs per set.
Despite the loss of such a valuable heavy hitter, Kentucky does not intend to sway from their winning ways. Starting with bringing star transfer Morgan Gaerte from Notre Dame, a 6-3 junior outside hitter, who was a powerhouse for the Fighting Irish last season recording 497 kills.
“But, you know, we got a long way to go before we really know exactly, but Morgan adds a point scoring factor over there that we haven’t had in a while,” head coach Craig Skinner said.
Kentucky will return a strong core from last season’s team, including star outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, setter Kassie O’Brien, libero Molly Tuozzo and standout middle blocker Lizzie Carr.
DeLeye, entering her senior season, was the other half of Kentucky’s dominant attacking duo alongside Hudson. With more than 1,000 career kills for the Wildcats, DeLeye will look to continue her offensive production after leading the team with 521 kills and averaging 4.69 kills per set last season.
While Kentucky returns a proven offensive leader in DeLeye, the Wildcats will still need to adjust following Hudson’s departure. Hudson was not only a key offensive weapon but also an important defensive contributor in the back row.
With Gaerte averaging around one dig per set last season, Kentucky may need to adjust its rotations and defensive strategy to maintain the level of play that helped carry the Wildcats to the national championship match.
“So we’ll be different in a lot of ways this year, but hopefully we can play defense a little bit higher level than we did today,” Skinner said.
Kentucky also returns a key piece of its front-court defense in middle blocker Carr, giving the Wildcats an important presence at the net. Carr finished last season with a .300 hitting percentage, providing efficient offense while serving as a defensive anchor for Kentucky.
Carr recorded 70 total blocks, averaging 0.63 blocks per set, and consistently disrupted opposing attacks throughout the season. Her ability to contribute both offensively and defensively will remain important as the Wildcats adjust to changes in their lineup.
With Carr returning to the middle, Kentucky maintains a reliable presence in both its blocking scheme and offensive system.
The Wildcats will also look to integrate new talent, with three freshmen joining the roster: Asia Thigpen, Sidney Burley and Bellamie Beus.
Beus arrives after a standout high school career in Idaho. The 2024-25 Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year, Beus recorded 595 kills last season and helped lead her team to the Idaho 6A state championship.
Thigpen, the No. 1 ranked recruit in North Carolina, also brings an impressive résumé to Lexington. She earned first-team All-State honors and conference MVP recognition during her high school career and now has the opportunity to make an immediate impact at Kentucky — the program she has long considered her dream school.
“I mean, every team has their own special things that they like to do,” O’Brien said. “That’s the cool part of playing volleyball, because you aren’t always on the same team with the same people and this group we’re just figuring out our rhythm.”
With a strong returning core and promising new additions, Kentucky will aim to build on last season’s success. The Wildcats will look to extend their dominance in the conference, pursuing a 10th consecutive SEC regular-season championship while also hoping to defend their SEC Tournament title.
