UK sweeps Arkansas despite challenging third set
Leah Edmond spikes the ball during the match against Florida on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky lost 3-0. Photo by Chase Phillips | Staff
November 22, 2017
Pass, set and kill. That was the method used by UK volleyball on Wednesday night, and it led to a victory over Arkansas in a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-17, 25-23.)
It all started with a run by the Cats in the first set, when they went up 12-7. It was a battle of the hitters after that.
Outside hitter Leah Edmond led the Cats with 21 kills, nine of which came in the first set, which helped Kentucky get off to a great start against the Razorbacks.
Kaz Brown started to heat up in the second set and she got Kentucky on the board to start. Brown finished with eight kills hitting at a .316 clip.
The Cats hit well in the first two sets, and their runs, plus their minimized errors, is what allowed them to get two set wins under their belt, sending Arkansas into the third set battling to force a fourth set.
The third set was when Arkansas was able to get their first lead over Kentucky and that set alone consisted of 13 ties. Both teams were competing, and while Kentucky was trying to close the match, Arkansas was fighting to force a fourth set.
Outside hitter Pilar Victoria contributed 17 kills for her team and with her leadership, the Razorbacks were able to find a rhythm and slow Kentucky’s hot hitting hand as they led 8-5.
With Kentucky down but not out, they came swinging back into the set. Still utilizing their pass, set, kill strategy, they played their game and used multiple hitters to throw Arkansas off.
As a team, a lack of errors was also a key element for UK’s win, as the team played a smart game with only nine errors, in comparison to Arkansas’s 17 errors. Kentucky was playing at its tempo and taking advantage of those errors by Arkansas, and that is how the Cats came back into the match.
The set was close but two plays by Kentucky both connected to the floor and the Cats were up 24-21 over Arkansas, and they closed the set.
Kentucky has one more road game left to finish regular season play, against Georgia on Friday, Nov. 24 at 5 p.m.